Local authorities in the Wana bazaar of South Waziristan attempted to arrest Shehzad Wazir, the coordinator for the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in the area. However, Wazir managed to evade arrest with the assistance of his associates.
This incident has reignited concerns about the nature of policing in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The police force in these regions was established without proper merit-based recruitment, serving as a private security force for the Pakistan Army’s Wana cantonment, specifically the Javed Sultan Camp.
Earlier, police conducted a raid on the residence of Owais Abdal, a prominent PTM member, in Chaman. While Abdal was not present at the time, his older brother was taken into custody.
These actions are as acts of political repression. The PTM has faced increasing pressure from Pak security forces in recent months. The movement has been vocal in its criticism of military operations in the region and has called for investigations into human rights abuses.