The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has intensified its political mobilization, holding key meetings in Karachi and Khyber in response to Pakistan Army’s brutal crackdown on Baloch activists. PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen announced that Pashtuns and Baloch will unite in a common struggle against Panjabi Pak Army repression, with a decisive action plan set to launch after Eid.
“In the future, we Pashtuns and Baloch will unite and embark on a new journey. We are formulating a plan of action for this,” PTM said. The latest wave of suppression against Baloch protesters has triggered mass demonstrations across Pak-occupied-Balochistan. In Lasbela, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee organized a rally against the Pak forces’ violent crackdown on peaceful sit-ins and demanded the immediate release of detained activists. The protest drew large crowds, including families of enforced disappearance victims, further exposing the systematic persecution of ethnic minorities in Pakistan.
Panjabi-establishment under fire
For decades, Pakistan Army establishment—of the Panjabi elite—has exploited, marginalized, and oppressed Pashtuns and Baloch. While resources from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are plundered, the people of these regions face enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and military crackdowns under the guise of “national security.” The PTM has repeatedly highlighted how the Pakistan Army operates as an occupation force in these regions, silencing dissent with brute force.
At a political and organizational meeting in Sohrab Goth’s UC-2, PTM activists reaffirmed their commitment to the movement. “The movement in Karachi is fully prepared. We are not a silent movement; we are waiting for the right moment,” declared PTM leaders. They vowed that after Eid, PTM would enter the political arena with renewed strength, alongside comrades from the Khyber National Jirga.
In a blatant attempt to stifle political activism, Islamabad’s Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas, acting at the behest of the military establishment, has issued arrest warrants for prominent human rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari, as well as PTM leaders Ali Wazir and Manzoor Pashteen. Despite the Paki establishment’s continuous repression, movements like PTM and Baloch activists remain steadfast in their struggle.