Shehzad Wazir, the South Waziristan Coordinator for the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), has been imprisoned once again following a new FIR. This arrest is part of a continued crackdown on PTM members, who have been vocal against Pakistan’s military interests in the Pashtun region.
The PTM has condemned the arrest, as it is a direct result of their opposition to Pakistan’s military operations and business interests in the Pashtun belt. The movement remains resolute in its resistance against what it perceives as unjust persecution.
Adding to the concerns, reportedly, Salman Turi, a PTM member from Kurram, remains missing. Despite his arrest the previous day, he has not been presented in any court, raising concerns about his safety and whereabouts. The PTM has expressed alarm over Turi’s fate, attributing the ongoing persecution to the influence of the Pakistan Army over law enforcement agencies.
The Pakistan Army has intensified its crackdown on the PTM, particularly in response to the movement’s planned national gathering on October 11 and its vocal opposition to the militarization of Waziristan through Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. These actions are an attempt to suppress dissent and silence voices advocating for the rights of the Pashtun people.