Karachi: On January 17, 2020, 27-year-old Manzoor Pashteen was arrested and sent to 14-day judicial remand in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on charges of sedition. Pashteen, a leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM, translated as Pashtun Protection Movement), held a jalsa (public gathering) on January 18, 2020 in Dera Ismail Khan district. There he spoke about rights for Pashtuns and the “unjust” constitution of Pakistan.
The PTM has been vocal about military and police operations in North Waziristan. The group came into the limelight after leading a protest against the extrajudicial killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi. The military has denied wrongdoing in the case.
Pashteen’s arrest
The PTM had asked supporters to hold protests across Pakistan and other parts of the world on Tuesday (January 28) against Pashteen’s arrest.
Mohsin Dawar, PTM leader and a member of the National Assembly, was arrested on Tuesday for protesting. Speaking to The Wire before the protest that led to his arrest, Dawar said that what Pashteen said in Dera Ismail Khan has been said before. “We have been speaking for the rights of Pashtuns who are victimised by the war on terror,” he said.
“Manzoor Pashteen’s arrest was a result of his calling for unity among Pashtuns and the Pashtun jirga (traditional council). His call offended some people. Therefore, they arrested him on shaky allegation,” Dawar continued. “They (the authorities) know we are nonviolent, and they want us to turn violent. But we have been nonviolent from the very start, and will remain so in the future.”
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Afrasiab Khattak, a former Pakistani member of parliament and eminent columnist who is associated with the movement, told The Wire that PTM members give a voice to marginalised people who have been affected both by terrorism and the state’s operations. “The defence minister first offered to talk to the PTM but then arrested its leader,” Khattak said. “Arresting Pashteen was unjustified, and will only galvanise the Pashtun struggle.”
PTM members have been arrested in the past as well, and then released on the bail. PTM supporter and activist Gulalai Ismail had to flee the country because of threats, while her father was arrested for expressing his views on discrimination. He was later released, but subject to a number of bail conditions. PTM leader Arman Loni was murdered in Balochistan during a sit-in protest.
The Pashtun movement has wider support in the region, from Afghanistan. Both Afghani President Ashraf Ghani and former President Hamid Karzai condemned Pashteen’s arrest.
…governments in the region must support and encourage peaceful civilian movements for justice and must avoid any means of force and violence against these movements. On the contrary, differences with such peaceful movements must be resolved through dialogue and engagement.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) January 27, 2020
I express deep concern over the arrest of PTM leader @ManzoorPashteen and his colleagues for their advocacy of human rights. While our region is suffering from extremism & violence, the detention of activists who peacefully campaign for the correction of wrongs could deepen the..
— Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) January 27, 2020
When asked about this support, Dawar told The Wire that it was unlikely to have any impact on the Pakistani government.
“Manzoor Pashteen’s arrest is not only a warning to Pashtuns, it is for all those who raise voice for human rights in other provinces of Pakistan as well,” said freelance journalist and PTM member Sana Ejaz.
Leaders of the big political parties in Pakistan, however, are reluctant to speak for Pashteen. When asked about the silence of political leaders, Afrasiab Khattak said that they will soon realise that they are standing on the wrong side. “Then they will join us in standing on the right side of history,” he said hopefully.
Ejaz lost her job as a TV anchor because of her support for the PTM. She has also received threats about it on social media. She said Pashteen had not disregarded the constitution in its entirety, but raised valid points on discrimination within the constitution. Those who speak for their rights as citizens in Pakistan are being labelled as traitors, she said.
Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch asked the Pakistan government to “stop arresting activists like Manzoor Pashteen who are critical of government’s actions and polices”. The Pakistani Human Rights Commission has also expressed concerns over the arrest.
“The constitution is a national document that should be discussed, and questions raised over it. This happens all over the world, that people discuss the constitution,” said Sana Ullah Baloch, member of the Balochistan provincial assembly and Baloch National Party. “The Pakistan constitution is not a sacred book.” He further said that Pashteen’s demands – justice for Pashtuns and equality – are not against the constitution.
“Raising questions does not mean you are against constitution. But those who have abrogated it, they are against the constitution,” said Afrasiab Khattak.
Veengas is a Karachi-based journalist.
