News Analysis |
In a new and interesting development, the authorities have confirmed that the leader of the Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Pashteen, has been declared a proclaimed offender. It has also been confirmed that 9 out of 19 PTM leaders could manage to get pre-arrest bail.
A letter issued by the SP-investigations clarified that Mr. Pashteen, Dr. Said Alam Masood, Advocate Fazal, Khan Zaman (residents of North Waziristan) as well as Muhsin Dawood, Ali Wazir, Samad Khan, Noor ul Islam (residents of South Waziristan) were declared as proclaimed offenders and then required to be arrested.
War on terror is a global phenomenon and Pakistan is one of the most affected countries in the world. Pashtuns had to face severe hardships due to war on terror but this does not mean that the Pakistan army has intentionally been damaging their houses or unnecessarily stopped them at check-posts. The context needs to be placed and understood.
According to details, the PTM leaders have been booked for multiple offenses after a party’s public meeting held in Swabi on Aug 13.
The case (FIR No. 695) was registered at the Swabi police station, on August 13, under Sections 123-B (defiling or unauthorizedly removing the National Flag of Pakistan from Government building, etc.), 131 (abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty), 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Read more: From a Yousafzai to Manzoor Pashteen – Not in my name!!
PTM: Origin, Initial Demands and Politics
Manzoor Pashteen and the PTM came at the scene after the killing of a young Pashtun shopkeeper, who aspired to become a model in Karachi. The young man was later identified as Naqeeb Ullah Mehsud. He was killed in, what is generally called, a ‘fake encounter’ on the roads of Karachi. Initially, the police official claimed that Mehsud belonged to some banned organization and was killed in an encounter.
Naqeeb’s family and friends did not buy the official version of the story and demanded an inquiry into the matter. An inquiry team then headed senior police officials, who came up with the claim that Mr. Meshud was not connected with any banned organization. Consequently, Pashtuns confessed that this murder symbolizes their fate in Pakistan where ‘many of tribesmen get disappeared and killed without any trial in the court of law’.
Initially, there were five demands presented by the PTM. But as the movement got some momentum across the country, Manzoor Pashteen increased his list of the demand. At the very outset, the PTM demanded to end the ill-treatment of commuters at check-posts, the release of missing persons, the arrest of Rao Anwar in Naqeebullah murder case, and clearance of landmines from conflict-hit areas in North and South Waziristan agencies.
These demands by a rights movement, were fair enough. But with the passage of time, PTM leadership started chanting anti-army slogans to bash the institution. The PTM leaders alleged the army for being behind all the ‘terrorism’ Pakistan is facing at the moment.
This was the turning point with regard to the demands and purpose of a rights movement. Interestingly, a rights movement transformed into an anti-army movement in Pakistan. Suspicions got some strength when the western media gave ‘extra-ordinary’ coverage to the movements and its demands. The Army Chief of Pakistan also termed the ‘engineered protests’, anti-state and warned the nation to be careful in order to protect their country.
Read more: Manzoor Pashteen’s PTM: A ‘Rights Movement’ or a new ‘Regional Agenda’?
New Demands of the PTM: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
“Now, we want a truth and reconciliation commission to address all issues facing Pakhtuns in the country,” said Mohsin Dawar. He further alleged that “thousands of people had been missing and only 200 to 300 such people had so far reached home”. PTM leadership accused security agencies for abducting their people extra-constitutionally. The PTM leaders argue that ‘it violates the basic human rights of any citizen’.
Mohsin further proposed that “truth and reconciliatory commission should get the task to look into the target killings, demolition of houses and other problems.” Such demands by the PTM leadership have apparently two problems. Firstly, blaming Pakistan army and security agencies of the country, does not qualify the PTM to be spoken of as a rights movement. Pakistan army has played a significant role in war on terror.
In a new and interesting development, the authorities have confirmed that the leader of the Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Manzoor Pashteen, has been declared a proclaimed offender. It has also been confirmed that 9 out of 19 PTM leaders could manage to get pre-arrest bail.
Many soldiers and officers have been martyred during several operations launched by Pakistan Armed forces. Any effort to destabilize the institution of our army will benefit regional and international enemies of Pakistan. Therefore, PTM’s anti-army rhetoric needs a careful and serious introspection. Secondly, truth and reconciliatory commission against whom? This has not been specified by the PTM leadership.
Pashtuns are an integral part of Pakistan army, civil service and other departments in the country. There are Pashtun army generals, secretaries and media persons. It is, therefore, not appropriate to allege the state of Pakistan of marginalizing the ethnic community and depriving of their fundamental rights.
Read more: Pakistan Army ready to negotiate with Manzoor Pashteen; Corps. Commander calls…
War on terror is a global phenomenon and Pakistan is one of the most affected countries in the world. Pashtuns had to face severe hardships due to war on terror but this does not mean that the Pakistan army has intentionally been damaging their houses or unnecessarily stopped them at check-posts. The context needs to be placed and understood.