In a latest development, PTM Sindh coordinator Noorullah Tareen has been released from jail following his implication in false cases and subsequent incarceration for eight months. Tareen’s release comes as a significant relief for the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and its supporters, who have been vocal about his unlawful detention.
Tareen was abducted from his house in Karachi on October 5, 2023, by Karachi Police. His detention was part of a broader crackdown on the PTM, an organization known for its non-violent advocacy for Pashtun rights and criticism of the Pakistani establishment. Tareen had been particularly vocal against Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to repatriate Afghan refugees, a stance that reportedly led to his abduction and imprisonment.
Following arrest of Noorullah Tareen, the provincial leadership of PTM in Karachi announced plans to resist if he was not presented in court, highlighting the arbitrary nature of his detention. The PTM has consistently condemned Pakistan’s policy of targeting activists who speak out against state oppression, with many activists being hounded, abducted, or even killed.
Pak crackdown on Afghan refugees
Notably, after the crackdown on Afghan refugees began on September 11, 2023, with initiation a sudden arrest drive, detaining almost 250 Afghan migrants, including women and children, in Karachi. Pakistan’s declaration to repatriate undocumented Afghan refugees quickly turned into selective harassment and targeting, partly in response to a humiliating attack on the Pakistani Army by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
During this difficult period for Afghan migrants, the PTM, under Tareen’s leadership in Sindh, stood in solidarity with the refugees.
Tareen’s abduction was seen as an attempt by the Pakistani establishment to weaken the PTM’s efforts in defending the rights of Afghan refugees.
Noorullah Tareen’s release marks a pivotal moment for the PTM and underscores the resilience of its members in the face of state repression. It also highlights the ongoing struggle for human rights and justice in Pakistan, particularly for marginalized communities such as the Pashtuns.