Manzoor Pashteen barred from flying to Karachi

–After refusal in Islamabad, Lahore police hold Pashteen in detention till after his plane takes off

Pashtun Tahfauz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen has been barred from flying to Karachi to participate in a public gathering to be held on Sunday, on the pretext of an “unconfirmed ticket”.

It may be noted here that the PTM leader is scheduled to address a rally in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area.

A video that has captured the entire conversation in this regard has also been making rounds on social media.

Without specifying any concrete reason, the receptionist in the video argues that “Pashteen’s name nor his PNR number are in their record”. However, PTM claims that Pashteen’s ticket was confirmed.

Pashteen and three of his associates had booked economy class seats on Serene Air flight ER-501, which was to depart from the newly-built Islamabad International Airport at 10am and reach Karachi at noon. When they reached check-in counter, the receptionist denied Pashteen the boarding pass, though he cleared the others to board the flight.

Upon this, the colleagues of Pashteen argue that this was the third time such thing happened. They further argued that they had paid Rs 21,000 for the ticket and besides that, they had also received a Whatsapp message and PNR number confirming the ticket. However, the receptionist remained adamant that Pashteen’s name was not in the record.

However, when Pakistan Today talked to PTM leader Mohsin Dawar, he claimed Pashteen had a confirmed ticket but still he was stopped from leaving for Karachi.

“After Pashteen was refused airline tickets in Islamabad, he left for Lahore and got himself a ticket. However, on his way to the airport he was intercepted by security personnel who held him for at least two and half hours so that he would miss the plane, which he did,” he added.

When asked if Pashteen will be able to make it to Karachi rally, Dawar replied that Manzoor Pashteen will address the Karachi rally “at all costs”.

It may be noted here that in the wake of the PTM’s rally on May 13, dozens of activists have been rounded up by the law enforcement agencies.