- A thorn in the side of the government
Maar-e-Asteen means a snake which resides in the cuff and bites its very owner. This phrase comes to mind in the context of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, abbreviated PTM. PTM is a social movement for Pashtun human rights, based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Baluchistan. Its genesis dates to May 2014, when it was established as the Mehsud Tahaffuz Movement as an initiative for removing landmines from Waziristan (specifically Mehsud land) and other parts of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, affected by the war against terror in Waziristan. Prima facie it was set up as a noble task.
The movement rose to prominence in January 2018 when it began a justice movement for Naqeebullah Mehsud, who was killed extra-judicially during a police encounter in Karachi that same month. After gaining popularity among the Pashtuns in January, its name was changed from the “Mehsud Tahaffuz Movement” to the “Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement” (Pashtun Protection Movement). The movement is led by Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen. Even after the main protagonists of Naqeebullah Mehsud murder were apprehended and judicial process started, PTM continued to wage protest rallies.
The year 2018 was rife with PTM protests throughout the year. On January 26, 2018, PTM organised a protest march starting from Dera Ismail Khan. The march started with only 22 people, but many people joined it along the way, as it passed through Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Domel, Karak, Kohat, and Darra Adam Khel, reaching Peshawar on January 28. Then after passing through Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, and Tarnol, the march reached Islamabad, where a sit-in (Dharna) called “All Pashtun National Jirga” was organised from February 1. The jirga condemned the murder of the Pashtun shopkeeper Naqeebullah Mehsud who was shot dead by police force in Karachi during an encounter, and the alleged state oppression against the Pashtuns. It asked the government to set up a judicial inquiry for Naqeebullah Mehsud, as well as for all the other Pashtuns murdered extra-judicially in alleged police encounters. The jirga demanded to stop racial profiling of the Pashtuns in Pakistan, and to bring the Pashtun missing persons before the court of law, so that those who are innocent but held could be freed. The jirga also demanded Pakistan army to guarantee that they will not abduct or open fire on innocents in the tribal areas or use violence or collective punishment against entire villages and tribes, and that they will not impose the frequent curfews on the movement of locals even after minor incidents. Another demand was to remove all landmines planted in the tribal areas, which have resulted in many civilian casualties. The protesters said that since 2009, more than 35 people including children had been killed due to landmines in South Waziristan alone.
The sit-in in Islamabad ended on February 10, but the organisers of PTM announced that they would reconvene the protest if their demands were not fulfilled by the government. The then civilian government of PML-N failed to control the situation but peace and order was restored after the law enforcing agencies stepped in.
Throughout the year, at the drop a hat, PTM has been at the forefront of every protest rally, bad mouthing the army and the government. An incident occurred during the campaign to inform people about the 12 August 2018 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.
Bushra Gohar also hurled allegations against suicidal Pakistani policies for supporting terrorism and “Fassad” in Afghanistan
PTM has been ostracised for its alleged anti-state activities. Pakistan’s mainstream television channels and media outlets are not reporting and covering the activities of the PTM. Their only medium to interact with the rest of Pakistan and to keep them updated is through social media. This further strengthens their narrative of being sidelined and ignored by the system. However, some international TV channels have taken up the cudgel on behalf of PTM and highlight its activities zealously.
On March 23, 2018, a PTM meeting was scheduled to be held in Peshawar University, but Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Islam Zeb issued an order under section 144 CrPC, imposing ban on political meetings in University and stated that any violation against the order shall be preceded against u/s 188 PPC and order will be exercised “for 30 days unless modified or withdrawn.” Later the meeting was held in Bagh-e-Naran, Hayatabad with 200 persons attending the gathering.
The movement’s anthem is “Da Sanga Azadi Da?”, which means “What kind of freedom is this?”. Many Pashtuns have discovered their voice with this anthem and it encloses the various grievances they have from being caught between the militants and the military.
Interestingly, numerous Pashtun politicians are using PTM for furthering their political aims. Afrasiab Khattak, who has been a senator and the provincial president of ANP and Ms Bushra Gohar, a former senior vice president and parliamentarian, are among them. Lately, Afrasiab Khattak and Bushra Gohar have been very active on social media. They have also been supporting the extreme ethnic narratives of PTM.
ANP Chairperson Asfand Yar Wali opines that the PTM has been crafted by the establishment to side line mainstream Pashtun leaders like himself, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Aftab Sherpao, Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman and Siraj-Ul-Haq. He questions how can two MNAs belonging to PTM be elected from Waziristan right under the nose of the army? ANP considered the duo’s line of pursuance to be different from the stated party position and served them show cause notice reading, “Your activities are against the party policy and discipline and are also spreading confusion among the party ranks, thus causing irreparable loss to the party”. Later, according to a notification issued from the Bacha Khan Markaz Peshawar on November 12, the membership of both the leaders was suspended for “involvement in activities against the party policy and discipline”.
It may be of interest to the readers to note that both leftist leaders are frequent visitors to Afghanistan. Afrasiab Khattak has lived in self-exile in Kabul from August 1980 to January 1989. These leaders have recently attended the 7th Edition of Herat Security Dialogue under Afghan Institute of Strategic Studies (AISS) and spilled poison against the state policies of Pakistan. Afrasiab Khattak alleged that the Daesh in Afghanistan is being supported through supply lines from Pakistan. He commented that the government of Mian Nawaz Sharif has been removed because they wanted a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan and peace with India. He declared PTM as an anti-war movement against state policies.
Bushra Gohar also hurled allegations against suicidal Pakistani policies for supporting terrorism and “Fassad” in Afghanistan. She emphasised the need Pashtun engagement for the people who have suffered on both sides of the “Durand Line”. She also underlined role of the Pashtun youth in Affairs of the two countries. PTM remains a thorn in the side of the government but it remains unclear as to who its actual backers are?
