In Wana, South Waziristan, where Habib-ul-Islam, a notorious former death squad member now serving as Station House Officer (SHO), attempted to abduct PTM core committee member Farman Akhtar Wazir. The abduction attempt was thwarted by local resistance.
Reportedly, Islam, who is known for his involvement with Pak Army-backed death squads, tried to forcibly take Wazir, but the intervention of local residents and Wazir’s friends prevented the abduction. Both the local SHO and informers from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Frontier Corps (IGFC) South Waziristan were present during the incident.
This incident reflects a broader pattern of suppression against Pashtun voices in the region. Since 1947, the Punjabi Pakistan Army has been exploiting Pashtun lands and labeling the local population as terrorists or sympathizers with militant groups once their sinister interests are achieved.
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) emerged as a peaceful response to this exploitation, advocating for the rights and safety of Pashtuns. However, the Punjabi Army has increasingly resorted to dubious and violent methods to stifle dissent. Activists, journalists, and ordinary Pashtuns face regular abductions; while some are released, others vanish without a trace, and many are later found dead in remote areas.
Today’s events highlight ongoing concerns about the safety of Pashtun activists and the escalating repression faced by those who speak out against the occupied-state’s actions.