The Punjabi Pak Army-state’s campaign of terror against Pashtuns has intensified, as peaceful protesters in Loralai face brutal repression for demanding justice. Among those targeted is Asmat, a worker of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), who was tortured and arrested along with other activists for protesting the inclusion of PTM members in the Fourth Schedule. Despite sustaining injuries and being granted bail, they have been detained again under the draconian Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law—an act of occupied-state terrorism aimed at crushing any resistance.
The crackdown reflects the Paki establishment’s strategy of silencing dissent through violence and arbitrary detentions. Loralai police, acting on three MPO warrants, arrested Asmat and others, detaining them for four days without justification. The detention of activists even after securing bail, exposes how the Army-state misuses its power to punish those who dare to challenge its oppressive policies. This relentless assault on PTM workers is a clear attempt to stifle the growing movement that demands accountability, justice and respect for Pashtun rights.
The PTM, which has long demanded justice for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the Punjabi Pak Army atrocities in Pashtun regions. For years, the Army has treated the Pashtun population as pawn in their game at first and then enemies later, imposing collective punishment through military operations, harassment, and forced displacements. These repressive tactics, now extending to peaceful movements like PTM, reveal the Army’s desperation to maintain control by silencing any voice for justice.