A grand meeting of the Pashtuns took place in Jamrud, where leaders and community members expressed strong opposition to the arrest of Malik Naseer Afridi, a prominent figure in the Pashtun community. The meeting, attended by an 80-member delegation from the Pashtun National Jirga, sent a stern message to the Paki establishment, demanding that Malik Naseer be released within three days.
The delegation made it clear that if the Pak authorities fail to release him by the third day, the Pashtuns will escalate its actions. A crucial meeting will be held at Bab Khyber, where a collective decision will be made. The resistance, they warned, will not be confined to Khyber, signaling the potential for a wider Pashtun uprising if the demands are ignored.
Malik Naseer’s arrest, ordered by the District Police Officer (DPO) of Khyber, has sparked outrage among the Pashtun community, as the DPO had summoned him for a traditional jirga meeting before taking him into custody. This move has been widely condemned as an affront to the Pashtun cultural heritage, particularly the revered jirga system that has long been a cornerstone of Pashtun society. The jirga, a traditional assembly of elders and community leaders, is considered a sacred institution for resolving disputes and maintaining peace within Pashtun communities.
The leaders have expressed their anger at the DPO’s actions, emphasizing that the arrest of Malik Naseer is an insult to the Pashtun way of life. “The DPO, who is clearly unaware of our traditions, has no place here. His actions not only undermine the authority of the jirga system but also reflect the broader disdain shown by the Pakistan towards the Pashtun people and their rights,” said one of the leaders.
The incident has further deepened the longstanding tensions between the Pashtun community and the Pakistan Army, as well as the broader Paki establishment. The military’s repeated interference in Pashtun affairs, including the suppression of dissent and the disregard for Pashtun cultural and political rights, has fueled a sense of disenfranchisement among the community.