PHC to be moved against expulsion decision

PESHAWAR: The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Mohsin Dawar said on Saturday that he would file a petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the decision to expel him from his hometown in North Waziristan.

Mohsin Dawar is contesting election from North Waziristan. However, the political administration launched a crackdown on the protest sit-in in Mir Ali last night and shifted Mohisn Dawar to Bannu while other protesters were arrested.

The political administration in its order stated that Mohsin Dawar, Darpakhel, North Waziristan, is acting in a manner prejudicial to the public peace and tranquility in North Waziristan.

“He is instigating the people through provocative speeches against the state and state institutions and attacked the state functionaries in the area,” the order said.

The administration claimed that this act was likely to create disturbance in the area and harm public order. It added this would also create law and order situation. The administration stated that it was necessary to prevent him from acting in a manner prejudicial to public peace and tranquility.

“Now, therefore, in exercise of the power vested in me under section 5 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 do hereby order expulsion of Mohsin Dawar from the limits of North Waziristan Agency with immediate effect. He shall not enter the limits of North Waziristan,” the order states.

Mohsin Dawar told The News that he would file a petition in the PHC against this unconstitutional act as this was an attempt to ensure the victory of his opponent in the coming election. He said that the authorities had disrupted the sit-in while the PTM leaders, supporters and families of the protesters who were picked from Mir Ali sit-in were unaware about their whereabouts.

Mohsin Dawar said that though the authorities have disrupted the sit-in, the protest planned in Mir Ali after Eid would be definitely held.

About the situation in Wana, South Waziristan, he said that the PTM leader Ali Wazir had reached Dera Ismail Khan and would soon come to Peshawar to address the protest sit-in being staged in the provincial capital.

He added that normalcy had returned to Wana and the 120-member jirga of tribal elders would convene another meeting after Eidul Fitr.

Meanwhile, the ‘dharna’ (sit-in) in Peshawar was underway on the fifth day Friday against the arrest of the PTM activists in Islamabad and other areas in Pakistan. The PTM leadership announced holding of protest in Peshawar after it claimed that militants attacked the PTM activists and were advancing on the house of Ali Wazir in Wana to kill him. Later, they announced that the Peshawar protest would continue till all PTM activists were released and were given the right to hold peaceful rallies.