The Punjabi Pak Army-state’s campaign of terror against Pashtuns has intensified, as peaceful protesters in Loralai face brutal repression for demanding justice. Among those targeted is Asmat, a worker of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), who was tortured and arrested along with other activists for protesting the inclusion of PTM members in the Fourth Schedule. Despite sustaining injuries and being granted bail, they have been detained again under the draconian Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law—an act of occupied-state terrorism aimed at crushing any resistance.

The crackdown reflects the Paki establishment’s strategy of silencing dissent through violence and arbitrary detentions. Loralai police, acting on three MPO warrants, arrested Asmat and others, detaining them for four days without justification. The detention of activists even after securing bail, exposes how the Army-state misuses its power to punish those who dare to challenge its oppressive policies. This relentless assault on PTM workers is a clear attempt to stifle the growing movement that demands accountability, justice and respect for Pashtun rights.

The PTM, which has long demanded justice for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Punjabi Pak Army atrocities in Pashtun regions. For years, the Army has treated the Pashtun population as pawn in their game at first and then enemies later, imposing collective punishment through military operations, harassment, and forced displacements. These repressive tactics, now extending to peaceful movements like PTM, reveal the Army’s desperation to maintain control by silencing any voice for justice.

Islamabad police have arrested renowned lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari along with her husband, citing interference in official duties.

The arrest took place following an altercation at the Zero Point Interchange, where roads had been blocked to facilitate the England cricket team’s movement to the stadium. Reports suggest that Mazari and her husband violated traffic routes, prompting police action. A case was registered against the couple for their actions at the scene.

The confrontation escalated when Mazari allegedly pushed officers and used abusive language. She and her husband were also seen removing barricades placed by traffic police.

Imaan Mazari is widely recognized for her outspoken activism against Pak Army’s enforced disappearances and violence against women. Known for her critical stance toward the military establishment, Mazari has repeatedly called out the authorities over their involvement in disappearances. Her criticism has previously resulted in arrests, reflecting the tense relationship between the activist and Paki regime.

In a chilling incident highlighting the brutality, journalist Khan M. Shar and his family have been abducted by Punjab Police in Rahimyar Khan, Punjab (Pak). Their whereabouts remain unknown, raising alarm among human rights advocates and journalists who fear for their safety. This comes on the heels of a recent extrajudicial killing of a student by the same police force, underscoring a disturbing pattern of violence and repression.

The plight of the Sindhi community has been further exacerbated by the tragic case of Saajan Malookani, a Sindhi law student who was forcibly disappeared 14 months ago by the Pakistan Army. In a horrific twist, Malookani was later killed in a staged encounter by Punjab Police, a tactic often employed to cover up Army-sponsored violence. This brutal act serves as a grim reminder of the lengths to which the military establishment will go to eliminate dissent and intimidate those who challenge their authority.

The Pakistan military’s systematic approach to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings reveals a deliberate strategy to crush ethnic and nationalist movements in Sindh. By fostering a culture of fear and oppression, Pak Army operate with impunity, shielded from the rule of law and accountability. Malookani’s assassination starkly illustrates the ruthlessness of the Paki establishment, where a colonial mindset drives efforts to silence any voice.

In yet another sign of the deteriorating security situation in Pakistan, the Russian Embassy in Islamabad has announced it is verifying claims that a Russian travel blogger has been abducted by the Hafiz Gul Bahadar faction of the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The militant group released a statement on October 26, 2024, along with a photo of the captive, identifying him as a “Russian soldier” kidnapped during an operation by Ghazwatul Hind Mujahideen—an affiliate of the Bahadar faction that operates across Pakistan’s North Waziristan and Afghanistan’s Khost region. This group has worked closely with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) since 2021, jointly carrying out attacks in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber district, and Balochistan.

The Pakistan Army dismissed the kidnapping claim as “unsubstantiated and fake,” with local authorities in Dera Ismail Khan denying knowledge of the incident. However, sources close to the Russian Embassy confirm that the missing person could be Igor Babko, a travel blogger from St. Petersburg known online as Vasya Shchupaltse, who went silent after entering Dera Ismail Khan on October 24. Two days later, his family sounded the alarm.

The Russian Embassy, in a post on X on October 29, stated that it is still in the process of verifying the reports.

This incident reflects the worsening security landscape in Pakistan, where rogue militant groups, once nurtured by the Pakistan Army, have slipped beyond its control. The Hafiz Gul Bahadar group, originally aligned with the Paki establishment, now operates with impunity, leaving civilians and foreign nationals vulnerable to abductions and attacks. The collaboration between the Bahadar faction and the TTP further exposes the military’s failure to manage the very terror networks it once cultivated.

The Pak Army’s reliance on these in-bred militant factions has backfired spectacularly, with attacks spilling beyond tribal areas into key districts like Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber and even Balochistan. These terror outfits, now functioning autonomously, pose a direct threat not only to Pashtuns but also to foreign visitors.