Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has officially announced a ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).
In a notification issued on Sunday, the Ministry stated that “based on substantial evidence, the decision to ban PTM has been made.” The notification further claimed that PTM is involved in promoting an anti-state narrative and spreading chaos.
The Ministry of Interior has now formally issued the ban, which will soon be implemented.
However, PTM has responded by saying that its core committee is currently meeting and will release an official statement on the matter later.
Just two days ago, on October 4, the Peshawar High Court, while addressing a case related to PTM’s planned gathering “Pashtun National Jirga” in the Khyber district, had remarked that the jirga should be allowed to take place, after which the court would assess its proceedings.
The case against the “National Jirga” was heard by a two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court, comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Waqar Ahmad.
The petitioner, Khyber district resident Khatirullah, filed a request in the court asking for the jirga to be stopped. His argument was that after the formation of Pakistan, the country already has a legal system in place, and courts have been established even in the formerly tribal areas.
The petitioner claimed that PTM was promoting racial divisions and trying to establish a parallel judiciary in the Khyber district under the name “Pashtun National Court.” He also mentioned that invitations had been sent out for this parallel system.
He further argued that since the decisions of jirgas and panchayats (local tribal councils) often involve inhumane punishments, the court should prevent PTM’s planned jirga on October 11.
Earlier, on October 1, PTM had claimed that Peshawar police had raided the venue of the “Pashtun National Jirga” in the Jamrud area of Khyber district on Tuesday night, leading to clashes between the police and PTM supporters.
PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen, in a statement, alleged that during the police raid, there was firing and tear gas shelling, resulting in several injuries to PTM supporters, while tents were also dismantled.
According to Manzoor Pashteen’s statement, after the raid, the organizers re-erected the tents, but the police allegedly responded with further tear gas and firing. Videos of the incident were circulating on social media.
PTM had planned to hold the jirga in Khyber district on October 11, addressing the ongoing unrest in the province under the name “Pashtun National Jirga/Court.”
Leaders from political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as well as nationalist figures and other prominent leaders, had been invited to attend the event.
The jirga was scheduled to last three days, with a detailed agenda that included discussions on the region’s issues in various sessions with invited members.
Tents had already been set up in the Regi Lalma area of Khyber for the jirga.
Related News: Pakistani Authorities Clamp Down on PTM Ahead of ‘Pashtun National Jirga’
After the police raids, Manzoor Pashteen declared that “no force in the world can stop our jirga, and we will make sure it happens.” He also called on all supporters to come to the jirga ground with their sleeping bags and other belongings. Pashteen condemned the police raid, claiming that even sick PTM members were arrested.
According to Pashteen, “We are holding the jirga to control the unrest in the Pashtun region, but it’s shameful that while we claim that the people and police are one, the police raided the jirga organizers while they were asleep.”