PTM public gatherings
PTM public gatherings | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of the Pashtun Long March for human rights | |||
Date | 26 Jan. – 10 Feb. 2018 (march started from Miramshah)[17] 12 Jan. 2020 (2nd gathering in Bannu)[18] 9 Feb. 2020 (gathering in Loralai)[19] 16 Feb. 2020 (2nd gathering in Dera Ismail Khan)[20] 1 Mar. 2020 (gathering in Charsadda)[21] 8 Nov. 2020 (gathering in Zhob) 15 Nov. 2020 (2nd gathering in Miramshah)[22] 27 Nov. 2020 (gathering in Chaman)[23] 6 Dec. 2020 (3rd gathering in Karachi) 27 Dec. 2020 (gathering in Bara)[24] | ||
Location | , with protest gatherings also elsewhere | ||
Caused by |
| ||
Goals |
| ||
Methods | demonstrations | ||
Status | Ongoing | ||
Parties | |||
| |||
Lead figures | |||
Hanif Pashteen
Hassan Nasir Jamal Malyar Jamila Gilani Manzoor Pashteen Mir Kalam Mohsin Dawar Mulla Behram Nadeem Askar Nargis Afsheen Khattak Said Alam Sanna Ejaz Wranga Loni |
The
Bajaur
PTM held its first public gathering in Pakistan's
Quetta
From 9 to 11 March 2018, PTM organized a protest march from Dera Ismail Khan to Quetta, passing through Drazanda, Zhob, Killa Saifullah, and Khanozai. After reaching Quetta, a grand public gathering was organized on 11 March at Sadiq Shaheed Stadium, Quetta. Representatives of various political parties addressed the gathering. The speakers said: "We demand constitutionally sanctioned rights in the country for Pashtuns."[2] Manzoor Pashteen expressed his regret about the failure of Pakistan's law enforcement agencies despite the promise by the government to arrest Rao Anwar, who was involved in the alleged extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud. Pashteen said at the gathering: "We had set one month deadline to certain quarters to apprehend Rao Anwar which expired but no action has been taken by the government."[2]
Wanna
On 23 March 2018 (
Peshawar
There was a grand gathering of PTM near
Lahore
PTM held a public gathering in the Punjab province of Pakistan on 22 April at the historical Mochi Gate, Lahore.[37] Attended by over 8,000 people,[5] the gathering was hosted by Lahore Left Front (LLF).[38] In May 2018, LLF was formed by 17 left wing parties whose objective was to revive Left-wing politics in country and counter prevailing religious fundamentalism.[39] The objectives of this gathering was to inform Punjab people about Pushtuns ordeal in war-hit areas of country[40] and uniting exploited masses of Punjab and Pushtuns - as well highlighting woes of ordinary Pushtun workers in Lahore.[41] Just one day before gathering, Lahore district administration rejected permission to hold gathering[40] and arrested its leading activists including Ali Wazir, Ismat Shahjahan, Bilawal Mandokhel, and Muzammil.[42] This act of administration was sharply criticized by public as well as notable politicians of country like Maryam Nawaz, Pervaiz Rashid, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.[37]
Despite of all hurdles, Lahore public gathering was held as per plan.[37] In this rally, PTM leaders asserted their demands and announced future rallies in Karachi & Swat.[43] Two days after this successful gathering, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt General Nazir Ahmed declared that PTM demands are genuine and military is ready for talks.[44] According to media reports, military had formed a committee to talk to PTM leaders and discuss their demands.[45]
Swat
There was a grand gathering of PTM in Swat District at Kabal ground near Mingora, on 29 April 2018, which was attended by more than 10,000 people.[46] The attendees were mostly relatives of alleged missing persons in recent times.[6] Speaking with gathering, Manzoor Pashteen said,
“We are demanding our legal rights within the domain of the Constitution but who will seek accountability from those who violated Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.”[46]
Pashteen criticized Pervez Musharraf for his alleged terrorism, and demanded for Musharraf and the spokesperson of the Taliban Ehsanullah Ehsan to be punished.[46]
Karachi
The
One day before the event, Manzoor Pashteen was barred from boarding his scheduled flight to Karachi from
Dera Ismail Khan
On 15 July 2018, a grand public gathering was organized by PTM at Haq Nawaz Park, Dera Ismail Khan in which thousands of people participated. During the gathering, PTM reiterated their main demands, and condemned the release of Rao Anwar, the prime suspect in the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud. Fazal Khan, a PTM leader whose son had been martyred in the 2014 Peshawar school massacre, also spoke at the gathering. He condemned the 13 July 2018 bombings in Mastung and Bannu, which killed a total of about 154 people and wounded 223 others.[8]
Swabi
On 12 August 2018, PTM organized a public gathering in Swabi, in which the Babrra massacre was commemorated on its 70th anniversary. Manzoor Pashteen told the gathering that PTM's struggle for the rights of the Pashtuns would continue under the Constitution of Pakistan.[9] He alleged that 70 years after the Babrra massacure, the Pashtuns are still being killed. He said: "Our struggle is based on justice, peace, and brotherhood. We will not accept the victimization of the Pashtuns."[52] He added that despite producing surplus electricity through Tarbela Dam and Ghazi-Barotha Hydropower Project, the people of Swabi District and the adjacent areas still suffer from long hours of power outages. Pashteen demanded that the district should be given an uninterrupted power supply. He also spoke about the problems faced by tobacco growers in the district, and said: "Tobacco is produced in Swabi, but the federal government reaps its benefits." He demanded that the incentives for the Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate in Swabi should be restored, because it was established to provide an alternative livelihood source to the farmers cultivating opium poppy.[52]
During the campaign to inform people about the gathering in Swabi, one day before the event, Manzoor Pashteen was denied entry into the mausoleum of Captain Karnal Sher Khan by Karnal Sher Khan's brother Anwar Sher Khan. Anwar said he denied Pashteen entry into the mausoleum out of respect for the Pakistan Army.[53][54]
Bannu
There was a grand gathering of PTM at Bannu Sports Complex in Bannu, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on 28 October 2018, which was attended by more than 60,000 people.[55] It was one of the largest public gatherings in the history of Bannu.[56] The attendees included relatives of alleged missing persons in recent times.[57] PTM protested for the immediate recovery of Tahir Dawar, a police officer and Pashto poet who had been abducted from the capital Islamabad on 26 October and missing for two days. Noor Islam Dawar, a PTM activist, asked the protesters during his speech at the gathering: "Is this the reward for Tahir's honesty, bravery, and professionalism: to be kidnapped?"[58] However, Tahir was never recovered alive and his dead body was later found by the locals in the Dur Baba District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, eighteen days after disappearance.[59]
Cologne
On 5 January 2019, more than a thousand supporters of PTM gathered in
Tank
On 13 January 2019, PTM held a public gathering in
Khaisor
On 20 January 2019, PTM organized a public gathering in
The Khaisor incident had surfaced two days earlier, when 13-year-old Hayat Khan from Khaisor claimed in a video on 18 January that Pakistani security forces had arrested his brother Adil and father Jalat Khan, and that his family had been facing harassment due to frequent visits by two security personnel to his home. Hayat Khan was allegedly persuaded by a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement activist, Noor Islam Dawar, to record the video.[67] In the video, which went viral on social media, Hayat said that his father and brother might not be freed, but he requested the security forces to stop the unwanted visits when he was the only male along with the women at his house.[68] Hayat's mother also spoke publicly about the incident, and said: "The soldiers once told me to make beds for them because they would spend the night inside our house. I am now publicly speaking because I am sick of the humiliation and dishonor."[69] Hayat's mother was alleged to have signed an affidavit to deny her previous allegation which was verified by some tribal elders.[67] Mohsin Dawar accused the Pakistani government of trying to force Hayat and his family to withdraw their claim against the security personnel.[13] On 27 January, a six-member female delegation from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the former lawmakers Bushra Gohar and Jamila Gilani, visited Khaisor to interview the women of the village about the incident. The visiting women were particularly struck by the story of Noorani Bibi, an illiterate old woman from Khaisor who had recorded each time the security forces raided her house while no men were at home by drawing 25 lines on a sheet of paper. "Many women told us that if their husbands or other male relatives are involved or suspected of any wrongdoing, the security forces can detain and investigate them, but they should not barge into our houses," Jamila said. "Women and children have been psychologically affected by the break-ins and harassment," Bushra added.[69]
Bamyan
On 14 February 2019, a gathering was held by PTM supporters in
Wanna (second gathering)
On 15 March 2019, PTM held its second gathering of
On 16 March, the supporters of PTM organized a march from Wanna to Angur Ada, a town at the border between South Waziristan and the Barmal District of Afghanistan's Paktika Province. In Angur Ada, the participants condoled and protested for the eight Kabulkhel Wazir tribesmen who had been killed on the evening of 9 March in the Rakha village of Barmal District by an Afghan pro-government armed group supported by international military forces.[72] The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan took notice of the Barmal killings and found out that the search operation was originally against the Taliban but resulted in civilian casualties, including children.[73] In response to the protest, the Afghan government announced to probe the killings through a commission.[74]
Peshawar (second gathering)
PTM scheduled a large gathering on 31 March 2019 in Peshawar near
Miramshah
On 14 April 2019, PTM supporters gathered in
Bannu (second gathering)
PTM's second gathering of Bannu was held at Mandan Park on 12 January 2020. During the gathering, Manzoor Pashteen announced the formation of a
Loralai
On 9 February 2020, PTM held a protest gathering in Loralai in the northeast of Balochistan to mark the first death anniversary of Arman Loni, a PTM leader who was allegedly killed on 2 February 2019 during a police crackdown in Loralai. Just before the gathering, security forces arrested Wranga Loni, Sanna Ejaz, Arfa Siddiq, and other female PTM activists as they were on their way to the gathering site but later released them when political activists gathered outside the police station to protest for them. Therefore, the female activists were able to join the gathering on time.[19][78]
The protesters at the gathering demanded justice for Arman and also demanded the Pakistani government to immediately release Manzoor Pashteen, who had been arrested on 27 January 2020 on sedition charges. Pashteen's arrest drew widespread condemnation throughout the world, including by the Afghan President
Also on 9 February, another protest rally was simultaneously held by PTM in the city of Karachi. Ghinwa Bhutto, the chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto), also attended the Karachi rally and supported PTM's demands.[83]
Dera Ismail Khan (second gathering)
PTM's second protest gathering of Dera Ismail Khan was held on 16 February 2020. The protesters called for the immediate release of PTM's leader Manzoor Pashteen.[20]
Charsadda
On 1 March 2020, PTM held a public gathering at Municipal Park,
After the Charsadda gathering, the police arrested two PTM activists for allegedly disrespecting the flag of Pakistan during the gathering.[21]
References
- ^ a b c "Pakistan's 'FATA Spring'". The Diplomat. 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ a b c "PTM leaders reject servitude role for Pashtuns". The Nation. 2018-03-12.
- ^ a b "Activist held in South Waziristan for anti-state rally". Pakistan Today. March 24, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ a b "Some 60,000 Pakistanis Rally In Peshawar For Rights Of Ethnic Pashtuns". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ a b "8,000 Attend Pakistani Rally Despite State Pressure". TOLO News. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement agitators gather in Swat to protest atrocities in Pakistan". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ a b c "Manzoor Pashteen addresses thousands-strong crowd in Karachi". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ a b "منظور پښتین: که د پاکستان آییني نظام موږ ته انصاف نه راکوي نو ټوله نړۍ به را ننګوو". VOA Deewa (in Pashto). 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
- ^ a b Pashteen vows to continue struggle for Pakhtun rights. Dawn. 13 August 2018.
- ^ Meet Manzoor Pashteen, the leader fighting for Pashtun rights in Pak. The Siasat Daily. 30 October 2018.
- ^ a b Pashtuns’ fight for justice gathers steam in Pakistan. The Siasat Daily. 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b c "One Year Of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement – Analysis". Eurasia Review. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
- ^ a b c "Unrest in Khaisor". Dawn. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ a b "HRW Calls For 'Transparent Probe' Into PTM Member's Death". TOLO news. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ a b "علي وزیر: نن له ټول پاکستانه د پښتنو د وینو بوی راځي". VOA Deewa (in Pashto). 15 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ a b "PTM Gears Up For 'Historic' Rally In Peshawar". Naya Daur. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "Thousands of PTM protesters rally for their rights in North Waziristan". Daily Times. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ a b "PTM holds rally at Bannu, calls for unity among Pakhtun leaders". DAWN. 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
- ^ a b "PTM Leaders Arrested In Loralai, Balochistan Ahead Of Public Meeting". Naya Daur. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ^ a b "PTM holds rally in DI Khan, Calls for the immediate release of Manzoor Pashteen". Sayhoon News. 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
- ^ a b c "PTM welcomes Afghan peace deal". Dawn. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ Violence creates doubt about Afghan peace talks: PTM. Dawn.
- ^ Thousands attend PTM rally in Chaman demanding end to Afghan war, "extrajudicial killings"in Pakistan. Asian News International.
- ^ "PTM demands release of MNA, supporters". 28 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Caught Between The Military And Militants, Pakistan's Pashtuns Fight For Rights". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Pashtuns rise up against war, Taliban and Pakistani military | DW | 09.04.2018". DW.COM. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "What is Pashtun Tahafuz Movement and what are its objectives? - Global Village Space". Global Village Space. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Young Pashteen and his political naivety". 15 April 2018.
- ^ "PTM organizes anti-Pakistan protests throughout Europe".
- ^ "Massive Pashtun Rally Protests Student's Killing". Gandhara RFE/RL. 2018-02-20. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ "Bajaur residents continue protest against extrajudicial killing of student". Khyber News. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ "PTM protests arrest of members, registration of cases in Peshawar". Pakistan Today. March 26, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "PTM activists protest alleged abduction of members, supporters". The News International. March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Hundreds respond to protest call by Pashtun movement". Dawn. March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "All set for PTM public gathering on Ring Road in Peshawar". Tribal News Network. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
- ^ "Why Pakistani military fears PTM". Asia Times. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Malik, Dawn.com | Atika Rehman | Arif (2018-04-22). "PTM Lahore rally: Manzoor Pashteen announces to take grievances to Karachi on May 12". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (2018-04-21). "Admin refuses to allow PTM meeting at Mochi Gate". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "17 like-minded parties form Lahore Left Front". Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ a b "PTM denied permission for Lahore rally". Samaa TV. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "PTM denied permission for Lahore rally". Samaa TV. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "PTM leaders arrested in Lahore - Daily Times". Daily Times. 2018-04-21. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "With lower turnout, PTM reaches Lahore | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Handle PTM with care — correction, not coercion - Daily Times". Daily Times. 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ "Apex committee to hold talks with PTM | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ^ a b c "'Jirgas settle dispute among rivals, not between state and citizens' - Daily Times". Daily Times. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ Dawn.com (2018-05-13). "Manzoor Pashteen reaches Karachi to address thousands of PTM supporters". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ "Govt gives PTM greenlight to hold Karachi jalsa | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ "'Every single person who facilitated PTM in Karachi was picked up' - Daily Times". Daily Times. 2018-05-12. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ Kakar, Abdul Hai; Siddique, Abubakar (22 May 2018). "Pashtun Leader Recounts Grueling Detour". Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ a b "Meet the 23-year-old activist who could change Pakistan". www.prospectmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
- ^ a b "Pashteen says efforts on to help Pakhtuns get rights". The News. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ^ "Karnal Sher Khan's brother bars Manzoor Pashteen from entering martyr's tomb". ARYNEWS. 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
- ^ "WATCH: Manzoor Pashteen heckled at Capt Karnal Sher's mausoleum". 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
- ^ "بنوں: پشتون تحفظ موومنٹ کا کیا اب تک کا سب سے بڑا جلسہ تھا؟". BBC Urdu (in Urdu). 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
- ^ "PTM's roars continue". Daily Times. 2018-11-02. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ "بنو کې د پښتون ژغورنې غورځنګ غونډې ته غبرګونونه". BBC Pashto (in Pashto). 2018-10-29. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
- ^ "The Pashtuns' Year of Living Dangerously". The American Interest. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ Sama, Digital (15 November 2018). "A cross-border mystery: Timeline of SP Tahir Khan Dawar's murder". SAMAA TV. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
- ^ "د پښتنو د تحفظ غورځنګ سلګونو پلویانو د جرمني په کولُن کې مظاهره وکړه". Azadi Radio (in Pashto). 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ "کولن کې د پښتون ژغورنې غورځنګ پلویانو مظاهره وکړه". Mashaal Radio (in Pashto). 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
- ^ "نقیب اللہ کی برسی، راؤ انوار کو سخت سزا دینے کا مطالبہ". VOA Urdu (in Urdu). 2019-01-13. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ "منظور پښتین: د پښتنو وطن د ترهګرۍ په پلمه لوټل شوی". BBC Pashto (in Pashto). 2019-01-13. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ "پښتین: د "سيپېک"پروژې ګټه د پښتنو پر ځای پنجاب ته رسېږي". VOA Pashto (in Pashto). 2019-01-13. Retrieved 2019-01-13.
- ^ "Pashtun rights activist Alamzeb Mehsud arrested in Pakistan". Al Jazeera. 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ "Alamzaib Mahsud: A messiah for missing persons". Daily Times. 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
- ^ a b "Khaisor incident: The untold story". The Express Tribune. 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
The MPCL worker was abducted by Hayat's elder brother, Shariatullah, and remains in his custody somewhere in the mountains of Waziristan.....On October 24, a day after the bodies were found, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation and raided Shariatullah's house in Khaisor.........According to the sources, a member of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, Noorul Islam, approached Shariatullah's family on January 18 this year – months after the raid and arrests of Jalat and Adil......Hayat's mother even signed an affidavit – verified by tribal elders – denying previous allegations of harassment......Then, on February 2, a second jirga was convened in Miranshah which was attended by 61 tribal elders and several district administration officers. The jirga concluded that all allegations against security forces were baseless and were propagated by a select few to further their vested interests.
- ^ "ANP seeks probe into harassment of family in Mirali". Dawn. 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ a b "Alleged Harassment By Pakistani Soldiers Sparks Protests In Waziristan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- ^ "گردهمایی باشندهگان بامیان درپشتیبانی از جنبش پشتونها درپاکستان". TOLO News (in Dari). 14 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ "علي وزیر: نن له ټول پاکستانه د پښتنو د وینو بوی راځي". ROHI.af (in Pashto). 16 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Pakistan condemns killing of eight Pakistani tribesmen in Afghanistan". Geo News. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ "UNAMA takes note of the Government's decision to address civilian casualties caused by pro-Government forces". ReliefWeb. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ "Afghanistan- ED: Protest through PTM". MenaFN.com. 2019-03-17. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
- ^ Mohsin Dawar (16 April 2019). "Why Pashtuns in Pakistan are rising up". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "پي ټي اېم: حکومت دې په وزیرستان کې د هدفي وژنو مخنیوی وکړي". Mashaal Radio (in Pashto). 14 April 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- ^ "Several political leaders willing to work for Pakhtuns' rights". The News International. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
- ^ "پی ٹی ایم کے خواتین کارکنان زیرحراست رہنے کے بعد رہا". Daily Shahbaz (in Urdu). 2020-02-09. Archived from the original on 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ^ "Pashtuns hit streets in Loralai, Karachi". Big News Network. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ^ "Detention Of Ethnic Pashtun Activist Triggers Protests In Pakistan, Afghanistan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ^ "13 PTM activists booked over hate speech". Dawn. 2020-02-11. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
- ^ "لورالائی، پی ٹی ایم جلسے میں شرکت کرنے پر پورے خاندان کے شناختی کارڈ زبلاک". Daily Shahbaz (in Urdu). 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
- ^ "Ghinwa Bhutto joins PTM demonstration to mark 1st anniversary of Arman Loni's death". Dawn. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ^ "PTM holds rally for Pashtuns' rights in Charsadda". Sayhoon News. 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2020-03-02.