NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Newsletter
Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick Instagram - Newsclick Youtube - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
You deserve independent, critical media. Subscribe and Support
Politics
International

Calling for Justice for Pashtuns, Thousands Gather in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) has called for unity among the Pashtun leadership, and has declared that another such public gathering will be held in Balochistan on the death anniversary of PTM leader Arman Loni on February 6
Peoples Dispatch
15 Jan 2020
PTM gathering attended by thousands in Bannu city on January 12.

The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) [Pashtun Protection Movement] held a massive public gathering in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on January 12, Sunday, calling for justice for the Pashtun community in the country. Thousands of people gathered in the city of Bannu, with activists of the movement calling for unity among the Pashtun leadership. PTM added that it will be holding another public gathering in the province of Balochistan on the death anniversary of PTM leader Arman Loni on February 6.

“We want the unity of Pashtuns,” said Manzoor Pashteen, an activist of the PTM on Sunday, adding that “Pashtuns have suffered for long and are still suffering… We want peace and justice, but unfortunately, new waves of targeted killings have been seen in [the] former tribal belt and justice is not being served.” The activist also noted that the PTM was not working for any political party, but was rather a civil movement fighting for the rights of Pashtuns.

The PTM, led by Ali Wazir, Mohsir Dawar and Manzoor Pashteen, has been leading campaigns against extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations inflicted on Pakistan’s Pashtun population. The movement has also demanded the de-mining of former tribal areas and greater autonomy for the northwestern belt of the country.

According to local estimates, about 30,000 people from the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have been subjected to enforced disappearances in the past ten years. The PTM leadership accuses the Pakistani intelligence agencies of being involved in the consistent human rights violations against the Pashtun community in the country. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has previously stated that 1,532 individuals continue to remain missing across four provinces of the country, the numbers being particularly high in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Balistan.

Arman Loni, a prominent PTM leader and a professor, had died under mysterious circumstances in February last year. It was alleged that the police was behind the killing.

While speaking with TOLOnews, Sana Ejaz, another member of the movement, said that the motive behind organizing such a huge gathering was to “internationalize Pakhtoons [Pashtuns] call for justice.” She went on to say that the crackdown on the PTM by the Pakistan army and the various attempts at censorship and isolation of the movement had failed to hold the PTM back. She added that despite the warnings issued to leadership, the movement had pushed forward and the public gathering was held on Sunday with large-scale public participation.  

Courtesy: Peoples Dispatch
Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Ali Wazir
Arman Loni
Balochistan
Enforced Disappearances
Extrajudicial killings
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Manzoor Pashteen
Mohsir Dawar
Pashtun struggle
Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement
Related Stories
Adivasi women

International Women’s Day: Adivasi Women Pay the Price for Defending their Lands

Taliban 9

Endless Trauma of Teen Kidnapped by Taliban Nine Years Ago

Shaheena Shaheen Baloch died under mysterious circumstances in southwest Pakistan’s Turbat on September 5. (Photo: Facebook)

Rights Groups Demand Probe into Mysterious Death of Woman Journalist in Pakistan

Rights groups demand justice for murdered Baloch student

Rights Groups Demand Justice for Murdered Baloch Student

Torture of Journalists Triggers Protests in Pakistan’s Southwestern Balochistan State

Torture of Journalists Triggers Protests in Pakistan’s Southwestern Balochistan State

Activists from Balochistan Province of Pakistan Found Dead in Mysterious Circumstances

Activists from Balochistan Province of Pakistan Found Dead in Mysterious Circumstances

Bangladesh journalist goes missing

Senior Journalist Goes Missing in Bangladesh

Doctors demanding protective gear to fight against COVID-19 detained in Pakistan.

Doctors Detained for Demanding Protective Gear in Pakistan

The sign reads "Not one more killed". Photo: Semana

In 2020, Already 50 Social Leaders Assassinated in Colombia

Missing Kashmiri Teenager Picked

Missing Kashmiri Teenager Picked up by Army, Alleges Family

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
You deserve independent, critical media. We want readers like you. Support independent, critical media. Subscribe to Newsclick.

Subscribe and Support


Latest

  • Assam

    Professor Arrested for Emails Criticising Assam Govt, CM

  • WB: Education Minister Interrogated by CBI in SSC Scam

    WB: Education Minister Interrogated by CBI in SSC Scam

  • Paresh Chandra Adhikari

    WB: High Court Dismisses Daughter of Minister Paresh Adhikari From Teachership

  • Is the GST Council a star chamber?

    Is the GST Council a Star Chamber?

  • Load More
Newsletter
About us
Grievance Redressal Mechanism