Pashtuns across Pakistan, along with other human rights activists, commemorated the victims of the Kala Qamar massacre and paid tribute to them on Sunday (May 26).
In North Waziristan, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) held a public meeting to honor the martyrs. The organization’s leader, Manzoor Pashteen, was present during the meeting.
The massacre took place on May 26, 2019, when the Pakistan Army opened fire on peaceful PTM protesters at the Khar Qamar check post in North Waziristan. The brutal act resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals and left 45 others injured.
The Pakistan Army attempted to blame the PTM, claiming that the protesters had attacked the army, leading to the firing. However, these claims were unfounded, and no evidence was provided to support them. Following the incident, several PTM activists, including Members of the National Assembly Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, were arrested.
Videos from the incident showed that the activists were unarmed and protesting against the brutal torture of an elderly woman by the Pakistan Army on May 25, 2019, as well as the ongoing subversion and human rights violations against Pashtuns.
At the time of the massacre, the PTM had been established for almost a year, with its leaders and activists facing false charges of treason and other accusations. The Pakistan Army used brutal force in an attempt to curb the movement. However, the resilience of the PTM has made it a strong force against Pakistani oppression.
The Khar Qamar massacre serves as a stark reminder of the high price paid for raising one’s voice against the Pakistan Army’s oppression and human rights violations.