New Delhi (NVI): In yet another brazen attempt by Pakistani state authorities to silence and harass Pashtuns fighting for their rights, prominent Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen was attacked at Mansehra toll plaza in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Pashtun people and rights activists have condemned the cowardly act and see it as assassination attempt on Pashteen by the Pakistani state agencies.
Pashtun human rights activist Gulalai Ismail has strongly condemned the attack on the PTM leader while sharing a video of the attack at Mansehra toll plaza.
“Strongly condemn the attack on PTM leader @ManzoorPashteen and demand independent investigations into the attack on him at Mansehra Toll plaza. Attacks on the new generation of Pashtuns leaders aren’t acceptable, enough with Pashtun Genocide,” she tweeted.
Strongly condemn the attack on PTM leader @ManzoorPashteen and demand independent investigations into the attack on him at Mansehra Toll plaza. Attacks on the new generation of Pashtuns leaders aren’t acceptable, enough with Pashtun Genocide.
— Gulalai Ismail ګلالۍاسماعیل (@Gulalai_Ismail) March 14, 2021
Manzoor Pashteen, who was crossing through the toll plaza along with his friends was targetted by goons who threw stones and eggs at their vehicles. Not only this, but gun shots were also fired in the air to intimidate and threaten the PTM leader and his crew.
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement USA has also condemned the cowardly act on PTM leader by Pakistani state security agencies. “Pashtuns are victims of Pakistan’s fake war against terrorism. Under it’s guise Pakistan has been oppressing Pashtuns, has occupied their territory and is looting their resources. Military operations are meant to destroy Pashtuns’ properties & livelihoods,” PTM’s US based group said in a tweet while sharing pics of houses destroyed by in a Pakistani military operation at Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan.
Pashtuns are victims of Pakistan’s fake war against terrorism. Under it’s guise Pakistan has been oppressing Pashtuns, has occupied their territory and is looting their resources.Military operations are meant to destroy Pashtuns’ properties & livelihoods. #PTMSupportBettaniSitIn pic.twitter.com/jcYGQ4I1Fw
— Pashtun Tahafuz Movement USA (@PTMUSA1) March 13, 2021
Pashtun people affected by the Pakistani operation have staged a sit-in against the state atrocities as they have been rendered homeless. Pakistani army has destroyed homes of Pashtuns in Rah-e-Nijat in a fake and fraudulent war against “terror”.
Another Pashtun rights activist Pashteen Idrees also shared a post on Twitter with the vehicles that were targetted at the toll plaza, saying that such cheap tactics cannot deter Pashtuns from demanding their rights. “Ptm chief @ManzoorPashteen along with his friends attacked by goons at Mansehra toll plaza .Our vehicles has been targeted by stones and dirty eggs. This cheap tactic don’t deter us from our destination,” he tweeted.
Ptm chief @ManzoorPashteen along with his friends attacked by goons at Mansehra toll plaza .Our vehicles has been targeted by stones and dirty eggs. This cheap tactic don’t deter us from our destination.#StateAttackedManzoorPashteen pic.twitter.com/tbjahnpVOo
— PaShteen IDrees (@Pashteenidrees1) March 14, 2021
PTM leader Mohsin Dawar also condemned the attack, tweeting, “Strongly condemn the attack on @ManzoorPashteen, Usman Kakar, Haji Abdul Samad and our PTM friends at the Mansehra Toll Plaza. The state continues to use all of its might to threaten, harass and attack peaceful activists.”
Strongly condemn the attack on @ManzoorPashteen, Usman Kakar, Haji Abdul Samad and our PTM friends at the Mansehra Toll Plaza. The state continues to use all of its might to threaten, harass and attack peaceful activists. #DaSangaAzadiDa
— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) March 14, 2021
The Pashtun community members have been suffering atrocities at the hands of Pakistani military for a long time. Recently, oppressed Pashtuns in Pakistan were up in arms against the military over extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances and called for major gatherings – “Jirga” – to decide on their strategy over it.
-ARK
