The Awami Workers Party has strongly condemned the arrest and ill-treatment of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Manzoor Pashteen, who was not allowed to contact his family for 2 days and was then charged in an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad. Calling it a violation of the principles of basic human dignity, AWP demanded an immediate release of Manzoor Pashteen.
The party warned that such violent actions not only violate the constitutional rights but are also a provocative act for followers of its non-violence political ideology and further weaken the foundations of Pakistan’s weak sovereignty.
Party President Akhtar Hussain and General Secretary Bakhshal Thalu said that Manzoor Pasteen was arrested by the police from Chaman while he was taking part in the ongoing peace protest on the border with Afghanistan. Contrary to the official statement, when his vehicle moved from Chaman towards Turbat, he was first threatened and then fired upon indiscriminately. He was going to express solidarity with the ongoing sit-in against the killing of three Baloch people in a fake encounter in Turbat.
The party iterated that Manzoor has the constitutional right to travel anywhere in Pakistan and all the allegations leveled against him in the fake case filed against him are baseless.
Awami Workers Party condemned the extra-constitutional proceedings
The leadership of the Awami Workers Party also condemned the manner in which Pashteen was handed over to the Ismail Khan Police and then to the Islamabad Police and was prevented from contacting his lawyers or any of his close relatives for 48 hours. This points to the growing lawlessness in Pakistan and makes a mockery of the establishment’s claim that it is creating a peaceful environment for holding elections.
Instead, such inhuman treatment of people who are peace-loving and progressive with conscience, along with others, makes it clear that the Pakistani establishment is rapidly becoming militarized and a graveyard of justice.
The party demanded the immediate release of Manzoor Pashteen. Additionally, all false cases made against him should be dropped immediately. Accordingly, Awami Workers Party also expressed solidarity with the ongoing peaceful protests across Pakistan for the rights of the people, oppressed communities and oppressed classes.