The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) on Thursday staged a protest outside the residence of the Pakistani ambassador to France against the “wrongful detention” of Ali Wazir and other PTM activists.
Ali Wazir, a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and a senior leader of PTM advocating the political rights of the Pashtun community, was arrested by the Sindh police on December 16, 2020. He was returning from a ceremony to mark the sixth anniversary of the Army Public School attack in which more than 150 children and teachers were killed in Peshawar.
“Ali Wazir is being prosecuted on anti-state charges. As per the FIR registered against him and other PTM activists on December 7, 2020, Sindh police said that they were arrested on charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy and passing remarks against state institutions,” said a protestor.
The protestors rejected the charges and demanded the immediate and their unconditional release.
“PTM rejects the charges as baseless as Pashtuns are organising a peaceful movement for the recovery of missing persons and basic human rights,” said a protestor.
“Pashtuns are victims of the Pakistan Establishment, who arbitrarily arrest peaceful PTM leaders and activists and there are many instances of forced disappearances, kidnappings and killings of Pashtuns by the Pakistan army,” said the protestor.
The PTM France said that Pakistan has not only failed to bring the killers to justice but has tried to silence those who would ask for answers and accountability.
PTM is a grassroots movement with enormous support from the Pashtun youth. The organisation is headed by its “charismatic leader” Manzoor Pashteen.
The Pakistani military has accused the PTM of having the support of Afghanistan and India and being involved in anti-state activities.
The PTM denies the allegations as “government propaganda.” The movement says that it believes in the peaceful struggle for civil rights enshrined in the Pakistani constitution. The organisation’s leaders say, those issuing treason certificates should reconsider their anti-citizen policies. Manzoor Pashteen once said about the movement that PTM is a civil movement, not a political party, and will continue to struggle for the rights of Pakhtuns.