The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) organised protest rallies at Miran Shah and other major cities to protest against the Imran Khan government’s treatment of ethnic Pashtuns and its decision to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, the firebrand leader of the PTM, PPP leader Farhatullah Babar, rights activist Khor Bibi were among the leaders addressed the massive protest.
The protesters also slammed the government for offering red carpet welcome to Gulbudhin Hikmatyar. “#ButcherOfKabul #GulbadinHikmatyar was given official proticol by #Islamabad,” an activist tweeted.
Another tweet said: #Pashtuns have had enough of death, displacements & destruction. Won’t tolerate a new cycle of violence on their soil. #EndTalibanProject
While Pashtuns constitute 15 per cent of the total Pakistan population, they have reportedly been subjected to brutalities. The community, which is the second-largest ethnic group in Pakistan has been facing mass genocide in the hands of the Pakistan army as a large number of civilians are killed and many are victims of enforced disappearances, as per ANI.
The PTM is a civil rights moments which emerged to tackle the issues and has repeatedly alleged that Pashtuns are becoming victims in the hands of the Pakistan army and the terrorists in the region.
Leaders of the Movement, which fights for rights of ethnic Pashtuns, have faced intimidation and arrests in past. According to ANI report, Arif Wazir, a leader of the PTM was attacked in Wana in North Waziristan, was severely wounded and later he succumbed to his injuries.
Human Rights activist Khor Bibi cheers the gathering by saying that they have stood up “against state brutalities with Pashtuns”.
“Bravo PTM! 4 holding such a massive demonstration & show of power against gross human rights violations committed by Pak Army on innocent Pashtuns,” she wrote in a tweet. “We’ll never forget & forgive #KharQamar & Wana massacres; killing of Arman Loni, Arif Wazir&Tahir Dawar,” she added.
“We are telling #GulbuddinHekmatyar that there are no limits to our movement, #PTM is everywhere in the Lar-aw-Bar Afghans, and as long as a single PTM worker is alive, I tell #Hekmatyar that we won’t let you destroy the Afghan political system.”
Another activist said: Pakistan brought Gulbudin Hekmatyar. Gave him state protocol. He gave threats to Afghanistan from here. He has been rejected by Afghans. PTM will resist attempts to impose decisions on Afghans from here. Only Afghans can decide their fate.
The PTM is a rights group that has called for the de-mining of the former tribal areas and greater freedom of movement within tribal areas. It has called for an end to “extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and unlawful detentions.”
