Activists ask for withdrawal of FIRs lodged against PTM founders

Farid Shinwari

PESHAWAR: Lashing out at relevant authorities in Balochistan for registering cases, the students, civil society and members of Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) on Saturday asked authorities to withdraw First Information Reports (FIRs) lodged against founders of PTM in Qila Saifullah in Quetta and Swat.

The activists of Pakhtun Tahafuz Movement and Pakhtun Zalmi Swat castigated the relevant authorities for registering FIRs in Quetta and Swat against founders of PTM without any known reasons. In this regard, a protest demonstration was carried out at Shersha Soori Road opposite cantonment by PTM members, students, lawyers and civil society activists against discrimination.

Protestors carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favor of their demands and criticized the authorities concerned for injustice and rude behavior with PTM founders.

Heading the protest demonstration, Haidar Khan Mohmand, Ghairat Yousafzai, Aimal Khan Yousafzai, Mazhar Azad and others who spoke on the occasion saying that they had conducted mammoth public meetings in Zhob, Qila Saifullah of Quetta and Swat  under the umbrella of PTM for their legal and constitutional rights. Unfortunately baseless FIRs were lodged against organizers of movement and terrorism clauses were also included in it, they regretted.

About the public gatherings, they clearly said they had organized activities in line with rules and regulations and even did not breach the law anymore. Neither any untoward incident has taken place nor the law has been broken anymore then why FIRs have been registered against PTM organizers, they questioned?.

“In the light of constitution, it is their right to hold peaceful demonstrations and public meetings across the country for their fair and legal rights” they clarified. Whenever they are protesting for their rights then some elements are labeling them with traitors which is a matter of great concern, they regretted.

Protestors demanded of the central government to review its polices pertaining to Pakhtun community and withdrawn FIRs lodged against PTM organizers forthwith.

After sit-in in Islamabad staged by PTM for early arrest of alleged Rao Anwar former SSP Mileer for his alleged involvement in killing of Naqibullah Mehsud of South Waziristan in fake encounter in Karachi, the movement gained momentum and initiated massive public gatherings across KP and Quetta in Balochistan for rights.  The PTM aimed at fighting for the rights and protection of Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun citizens.