PTM Leaders Detained, Children Killed: Protests Against Military Operations Intensify in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Announcement!!!
The Pashtun National Jirga had called for protests against terrorism and so-called military operations. In response, workers of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) have been subjected to violence, arrested, and imprisoned under the black law known as 3MPO for their involvement in these protests. We strongly condemn this oppression.
The martyrdom of five innocent children and the injury of over 13 others in mortar shell explosions in Lakki Marwat is a continuation of the state’s anti-Pashtun policies and ongoing Pashtun genocide.
On July 31, Bilal Orakzai, a PTM leader in Peshawar, was arrested along with five other colleagues from Kabootar Chowk after protesting against military operations in Bajaur. Although the five others were released, Bilal Orakzai has neither been presented in court nor released even after three days. Under orders from military authorities, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, is forcibly disappearing PTM workers through police action and subjecting them to severe oppression.
During the ongoing protests in Bajaur, which the Pashtun National Jirga Khyber called against terrorism, military operations, and insecurity, PTM members Salman and Ghairat Lala were arrested on the orders of the military establishment by Chief Minister Gandapur’s police. They were tortured and imprisoned in Haripur Jail under the black law 3MPO.
In Bannu, protests were sabotaged by the PTI provincial government. PTM members, including Giron Wazir, Latif Wazir, Rehan Advocate, Murad Khan, PTM Karak leader Shayan Khan, and 32 others were tortured, arrested, and jailed under 3MPO. Terrorism cases were filed against PTM activists in Buner on orders of the PTI provincial government, and overnight police raids were carried out on their homes.
Similarly, protests took place in Zhob and Sherani in response to the call of the Pashtun National Jirga Khyber. The PPP-led Balochistan government, in alliance with military authorities, filed terrorism charges against PTM members for participating in these protests. This is the only state in the world where those raising their voices against terrorism and insecurity are labeled terrorists, while the murderers of innocent people and those responsible for bombings are celebrated as heroes.
PTM leader Ali Wazir has been imprisoned in various jails for over a year under false charges initiated by military orders and executed by provincial governments. He is currently held in a Sindh jail under false cases filed by the PPP-led Sindh government.
Likewise, PTM leader Haji Abdul Samad Lala was arrested from Bannu under the orders of military authorities by CM Gandapur of the PTI KP government. Dozens of fake cases were filed against him across the province and he was imprisoned. Later, he was handed over to the PPP-led Sindh government of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, where he remains imprisoned under false cases.
Malik Naseer Kukikhel, head of the Pashtun National Jirga Khyber, was summoned for talks to the DC office after the Jirga and was then arrested under false charges by the PTI provincial government. Despite being granted bail in dozens of cases, instead of being released from Attock jail, he was abducted from within the prison and has now forcibly disappeared. He has not yet been presented in any court.
Last night, in a village in Lakki Marwat, five innocent children were martyred and over 13 others injured in a mortar explosion. The silence of human rights activists and organizations in the face of this state-led killing of Pashtun children is deeply regrettable. We consider this a continuation of the anti-Pashtun state policies.
Even innocent children are being martyred to strengthen the colonial occupation of Pashtun mineral resources and to once again displace Pashtuns from their homeland. State-backed proxy terrorists are being used to spread fear and terror.
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement stands not only in full solidarity with the families of the innocent children in Lakki Marwat and the local people but will also play an active role in any form of protest they decide to undertake.
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement
