Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister announced on Tuesday that the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has been banned due to alleged “close ties” with “terrorist groups.” Attaullah Tarar, the minister, also accused the PTM of engaging in “campaigns against the country.”
The minister did not specify the organizations with which PTM is allegedly connected.
In his remarks to Pakistani media, Tarar accused PTM members of past actions, such as burning Pakistan’s national flag and attacking the country’s embassies abroad.
He stated that investigations into one such embassy attack revealed that some PTM members and Afghan citizens were involved.
Tarar emphasized that no one would be allowed to attack embassies or maintain links with terrorist organizations and that any ideology based on falsehoods would not be tolerated.
He expressed regret that some individuals were using the Pashtun community’s name to harm Pakistan’s security despite the positive role Pashtuns have played in the country’s history.
The Pakistani government previously declared the PTM a banned organization, stating that its activities are against peace and security in the country.
Manzoor Pashteen, the leader of PTM, claimed that last night’s police attacks on PTM workers demonstrated increasing hostility between the movement and the Pakistani authorities, further fueling tensions.
The ongoing crackdown on PTM reflects broader concerns over the suppression of political dissent in Pakistan, raising questions about the future of peaceful movements advocating for minority rights in the country.
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