In a bold and defiant address, Manzoor Pashteen, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), urged his fellow Pashtuns to gather for the Pashtun National Jirga despite a Paki establishment-imposed ban and a violent police crackdown that left many injured. Pashteen’s impassioned speech came in the wake of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police using tear gas and live ammunition against peaceful protesters, resulting in multiple casualties and serious injuries.
“The assembly will take place in any case!” Pashteen said, emphasizing the urgency of the gathering to address the ongoing injustices faced by the Pashtun community. He lamented the tragic loss of life, stating, “The blood of Pashtuns was spilled in the business war. More than eighty thousand Pashtuns were martyred. Thousands are missing. We live in fear in our country. Our tools are in the possession of another.” He invited all Pashtuns to come “uninvited” to the jirga, rallying his community to stand firm against oppression. “We will not back down. We will lose our head, but we will not lower our head. We also accept failure, but we do not accept slavery and a low head. The confrontation is between the Pashtuns and the enemy. Come to the field!”
Pashteen Urges Unity
The Punjabi Pak Army-backed-police assault on the jirga site, which aimed to bring together the Pashtun community to discuss their grievances, represents yet another chapter in the Paki establishment’s ongoing campaign to silence dissent. Despite a ban on the PTM, the resilience of the Pashtun people is evident as they continue to march toward Khyber, undeterred by the occupied-state’s brutality. Reportedly, police first deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, leading to chaos, before resorting to live ammunition in an egregious violation of human rights.
This tightening of iron-fist approach is indicative of a broader pattern of Punjabi Pak Army state repression against marginalized communities in Pakistan, particularly the Pashtuns, who have long endured systemic injustices. The Pakistan Army’s actions against PTM members—including arrests, abductions, and violent crackdowns—are not only condemnable but also reflect a blatant disregard for the rights of peaceful protesters. At least six PTM members have been killed due to the Army’s excessive use of force during recent protests.
Manzoor Pashteen’s powerful message serves as a rallying cry for all Pashtuns to come together in the fight against oppression and against the Paki establishment for justice and autonomy for the Pashtun people.