PTM activists protest alleged abduction of members, supporters

PESHAWAR: The activists of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) staged protests outside the Peshawar Press Club and other cities on Monday against the alleged abduction of the movement’s members and supporters.

The protesters were holding placards inscribed with slogans demanding the release of the PTM activists.

Speaking on the occasion, Army Public School Shuhada Forum President Fazal

Khan Advocate said the state institutions should stop treating its citizens as enemies.

He said unaccountable state institutions were responsible for the problems in the country. He demanded that all the missing persons should be produced before the courts.

A social activist, Sana Ejaz, in her speech said that Pakhtuns would no more tolerate injustices, asking the state institutions not to cross the constitutional limit.

She said that Pakhtun youth were demanding constitutional rights and

should not be declared anti-state. She demanded equal rights for the Pakhtuns in Pakistan.

Sana Ejaz condemned the attack on the peaceful protest sit-in in support of the PTM in Kabul and said that the supporters of terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan would soon be exposed to the world.

Women rights activist Shabina Ayaz said that the overwhelming participation of youth in the peaceful protests of the PTM proved that the young generation wanted peace and prosperity in the country.

Protests were also staged by PTM activists in other parts of the province.

BANNU: The PTM protesters gathered outside the Bannu Press Club holding placards inscribed with slogans against the illegal detentions and arrests. Nadim Askar, Dr Habibullah, Rahamdil and other activists spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said the PTM wanted rights for the Pakhtuns in Pakistan. They said that their demands were not unconstitutional and registration of cases and other illegal tactics were being used to silence the activists.

They said that the Constitution had ensured rights to every citizen but the authorities were not accepting Pakhtuns as equal citizens and wanted to silence the PTM head Manzoor Pashteen.

They warned against the use of unconstitutional methods against the Pakhtuns and activists of PTM.

The protesters also condemned the attack on the peaceful sit-in in Kabul. They also condemned the suicide attack in Helmand province in Afghanistan.

They demanded release of PTM leader Arif Wazir who was arrested in Wana, South Waziristan and quashing of the first information reports against the PTM leaders and workers.

MINGORA: The activists of the PTM staged protest against the arrest of one of their leaders Arif Wazir in Wana.

PTM activists Iqbal Khan Essakhel, Izhar, Fawad Khan and others condemned the arrest.

They demanded Arif Wazir release and asked the authorities to stop harassing Pakhtuns for demanding constitutional rights.

The protesters said that Pakhtuns had tolerated injustices and were not ready to be sacrificed for the state’s follies.

They said that PTM workers were receiving threatening calls from unknown phone numbers and warned against such practices.

They said that their demands were constitutional and such tactics were meant to provoke the peace-loving Pakhtuns.

MARDAN:  The PTM activists staged a protest rally outside the Mardan Press Club against the arrest of fellow workers.

The rally was led by Sajjad Khan, Iqbal Khan, Umarzada Afghan, Ijaz Afghan, Taj Mohammad, Shakeel Durrani and others.

The participants were holding placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.

Talking to the reporters, they said they wanted an honourable life and legal rights for the Pakhtuns. They believed that some institutions were trying to malign the PTM. They condemned the arrest of Arif Wazir and other activists of the movement.