KARACHI: Chairperson of PPP-SB Ghinwa Bhutto joined an event held here today to observe the death anniversary of PTM’s Arman Loni.
PTM’s activists and supporters demanded the release of the group’s chief Manzoor Pashteen who was arrested last month from a rally.
It may be recalled that Loni was killed on 3rd of February 2019 while staging a sit-in at Balochistan’s area Loralai. His family and members of PTM had maintained that he was killed in a police crackdown and demanded that the Provincial government take notice of his death. It later transpired via report that he was not tortured.
PTM had obtained permission to hold the public meeting here which was attracted some 350 people.
Another rally by PTM activists is being held in Loralai to commemorate Loni’s death anniversary.
Relevant pieces published earlier:
Court rejects PTM Chief Manzoor Pashteen’s request for interim bail
28th of January, 2020
PESHAWAR: Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen’s request for interim bail has been turned down by a District & Sessions Court here today.
Court has ordered the authorities to transfer him to a Dera Ismail (DI) Khan jail. Yesterday he was lodged in Peshawar Central Jail on a 14-day judicial remand after arrest from Shaheen Town area. Pashteen’s counsel represented him in court during today’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, fifteen PTM workers, including Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were nabbed from outside of Islamabad Press Club where they were demonstrating against their leader Manzoor Pashteen’s arrest. It is pertinent to mention here that politicians like Afrasiab Khattak and Bushra Gohar were also present at the protest.
A case has been registered against Manzoor Pashteen on 18th of January, 2020 at the City Police Station in DI Khan u/sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), 124 (sedition), and 123-A (condemning the creation of the country and advocating the abolishment of its sovereignty) PPC.
According to FIR Manzoor Pashteen and other PTM leaders had attended a gathering on 18th of January in DI Khan where Pashteen had allegedly said that the 1973 Constitution violated basic human rights. Pashteen also made derogatory remarks about the state.
PTM leaders playing on foreign agenda: minister
27th May, 2018
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai has stated that Ali Wazir and Mohsin Javed Dawar from Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and led a group to assault a military check post to forcibly secure the release a terrorists’ facilitator in the tribal district of North Waziristan on Sunday – have been working on foreign agenda by inciting Pashtuns against the state institutions.
In this regard, Yousafzai advised workers of the PTM to be careful [about their activities]. “State institutions are being disgraced in the name of rights of Pashtuns,” he is reported to have said.
“Pakistan Armed Forces and tribal people have given sacrifices in the war against terrorism,” he added.
PTM in favor of US drone strikes in Waziristan: Murad Saeed
27th of May, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Unveiling the treacherous mindset of Mohsin Dawar, Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed claimed that leader of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) used to give statements in favor of US drone strikes in North Waziristan.
Speaking on the floor of National Assembly on Monday, the minister shed light on yesterday’s attack on a check post in North Waziristan, saying that member of National Assembly Mohsin Dawar incited his PTM workers to carry out the assault.
Referring to the Constitution of Pakistan and the right of freedom of speech, Saeed said “those two people [Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir] have taken oath on this constitution,” which bars all citizens from speaking anything which hurts the integrity and defense of the country, yet they speak ill of the state’s institutions.
He also slammed opposition parties for being in power in the past and failing to rehabilitate the people of N. Waziristan following the operations against terrorism. It is pertinent to note that a day earlier, as many as five Army personnel were wounded in a attack on a check post in North Waziristan by a group of PTM, Inter Service Public Relation had said.app
PTM workers attack a security post in Miranshah
26th of May, 2018
MIRANSHAH: A clash between workers of the Pashtoon Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and security personnel took place here today.
According to details, gunmen attempted to get those terrorists/facilitators released who were arrested earlier. As a result of the firing five security personnel got severely injured while three attackers were shot dead.
Sources privy to NPTV have reported that Mohsin Dawar, Wazir Ali along with other armed workers attempted to attack an Army check-post. Pakistan security forces have arrested eight miscreants including Wazir Ali.
DG ISPR stated: “A group led by Mohsin Javed [Dawar] and Ali Wazir, assaulted Kharqamar check post, Boyya, North Waziristan tribal district this morning. They wanted to exert pressure for the release of suspected terrorists’ facilitator arrested the other day. Troops at the check post exercised maximum restraint in the face of provocation and direct firing on the post. Due to the firing of the group, 5 Army soldiers got injured. In exchange of fire 3 individuals who attacked the post lost their lives and 10 got injured. All injured evacuated to Army Hospital for treatment. Ali Wazir along with 8 individuals have been arrested while Mohsin Javed is at large after inciting the crowd.”
According to reports, a clash erupted at the venue where area residents had been staging a sit-in for many days protesting against the assault of a local woman. Reportedly, the crowd raised slogans when Mohsin Dawar and Wazir Ali reached the venue of the sit-in and as a result of firing by unknown gunmen, twenty people got injured including Dawar who received a minor hand injury.
Readers may recall that last week while talking to Media DG ISPR has stated that Afghan NDS and Indian RAW were financing PTM. He had warned the time of those who were playing in others’ hands was up.
ISPR DG took to the twitter to warn: “NWTD incident. Innocent PTM supporters/workers need care. Only a few are inciting and using them against state institutions for vested agenda. No one will be allowed to undo the gains of decades-long national struggle and sacrifices, especially of brave Pakistani tribals.”
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held: “How can Mohsin Dawar attack a check post? I don’t think an elected representative can conduct such an attack. And, if violence has taken place, we surely condemn it. But, violence should also not take place against peaceful citizens and political workers, whose right it is to hold a peaceful protest. I will find out the facts. I have been saying since day one that you may disagree with them [PTM], you can disagree with their point of view 100 percent, you can argue with them. But, if you will not engage with the young politicians who come from a place such as Fata, if you will not attempt to reduce their grievances or justify their misperceptions, then we have all seen what used to happen during the Musharraf era in Balochistan. We have all seen what happened with Bangladesh, with East Pakistan, following Ayub Khan’s dictatorship. And now, if we will label our own citizens, our own children, our own politicians traitors when they talk about rights, democracy, civil rule of law, then we will set ourselves on a very dangerous path.”
Mohsin Dawar (L) and Ali Wazir
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An FIR was also registered in North Waziristan on 6th of May against MNA Ali Wazir and eleven other members of PTM for enticing people to revolt against the state and for protesting and chanting slogans against state and security forces.
Meanwhile, Afghan Social Media is trying to capitalize on the incident by using pictures of some other incidents.
According to VOA DEEWA curfew has been imposed in N. Waziristan after an incident of firing involving supporters of PTM and Pakistan Military. Talking to VOA DEWA Mohsin Dawar claimed that they did not commence the skirmish.
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