Fatih Khan Kakar, the coordinator for the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Qilla Saifullah, has been arrested by Pakistani authorities under false and politically motivated FIRs. The arrest took place on May 27, and Kakar has since been remanded to police custody for five days by the court.
PTM has long accused the Pakistani establishment of using fabricated charges to target its members and suppress their activism. This latest arrest is seen by many as a continuation of this trend. Despite years of imprisonment and state repression, PTM activists have remained steadfast, refusing to abandon their cause.
Fatih Khan Kakar’s arrest has sparked outrage within PTM and among human rights activists. The movement, which advocates for the rights of Pashtun and other marginalized groups, claims that Pakistan is increasingly alarmed by the rising national consciousness and awareness among the people. This awareness, they argue, poses a threat to the oppressive policies of the authorities, prompting desperate measures to stifle dissent.
In response to Kakar’s arrest, PTM leaders have vowed to continue their struggle, emphasizing that such actions will not deter their movement.