Manzoor Pashteen

Pashteen was born in 1994 in Shahur (or Shaheer), Mawle Khan Sarai, a small village near the town of Sarwakai in South Waziristan. The eldest of eight siblings, Pashteen belongs to the Shamankhel Mahsud tribe of the Pashtuns. His father, Abdul Wadud Mahsud, is a primary school teacher at his village.{{Cite news|url=https://www.voadeewanews.com/a/manzoor-pashtoon-profile/4250116.html|title=د پښتنو د پاڅون مشر منظور پښتين څوک دی؟|date=2018-02-13|work=VOA Deewa|access-date=2018-02-13|language=ps|archive-date=2019-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106221911/https://www.voadeewanews.com/a/manzoor-pashtoon-profile/4250116.html|url-status=live}}

Pashteen received his early education at his village's school in South Waziristan. In 2005, because of military operations by the Pakistan Armed Forces against militants, Pashteen and his family were forced to flee Waziristan to settle in IDP refugee camps in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/the-mehsud-with-a-movement/|title=The Mehsud with a movement|date=2018-03-02|work=The Friday Times|access-date=2018-06-19|archive-date=2021-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929184456/https://www.thefridaytimes.com/the-mehsud-with-a-movement/|url-status=live}} The family fled from their home in Waziristan for a second time in 2007, returned in 2008, but fled again later that year due to Operation Zalzala. In 2009, because of Operation Rah-e-Nijat, he and his family were forced to flee Waziristan for the fourth time. Pashteen completed his secondary education at Army Public School in Bannu and higher secondary education in Karak. His father was determined to ensure his education. "Only I know", Pashteen said, "my father borrowed money for my schooling and only I know how much we have suffered". Pashteen received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2016 at the Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan. When he and his family returned to Waziristan in 2016, they found that their books had been looted, their home ruined, and landmines were scattered over their lands.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/04/07/598045758/caught-between-the-military-and-militants-pakistans-pashtuns-fight-for-rights|title=Caught Between The Military And Militants, Pakistan's Pashtuns Fight For Rights|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-06-21|language=en|archive-date=2018-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615120513/https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/04/07/598045758/caught-between-the-military-and-militants-pakistans-pashtuns-fight-for-rights|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Pashtun Tahafuz Movement}}

In May 2014, during his studies at the Gomal University, Pashteen founded the "Mahsud Tahafuz Movement",{{Cite news|url=http://bbc.in/2p9q0vg|title=د پښتنو منظور پښتین له کومه راغی؟|date=2018-03-11|work=BBC Pashto|access-date=2018-03-12|language=ps|archive-date=2019-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106221901/https://www.bbc.com/pashto/pakhtunkhwa-43365216?ocid=socialflow_facebook|url-status=live}} a social movement mainly focused on removing landmines from Waziristan (especially Mahsud land).

The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (Movement for the Protection of Pashtuns, PTM) campaigns against war, blaming both Islamist militants and the Pakistani military for the destruction. The region has been a war zone since the 1980s, since the Cold War between the Soviet Union and United States and the following conflict between western and Islamist forces.{{Cite news|last=Shams|first=Shamil|date=2018-04-09|title=Pashtuns rise up against war, Taliban and Pakistani military|work=Deutsche Welle|url=https://www.dw.com/en/pashtuns-rise-up-against-war-taliban-and-pakistani-military/a-43309299|access-date=2021-09-29|archive-date=2021-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525004919/https://www.dw.com/en/pashtuns-rise-up-against-war-taliban-and-pakistani-military/a-43309299|url-status=live}}

The Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan in its notification dated 6 October 2024 added the PTM into list of proscribed organizations citing public order and security in the country.{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Dawn |date=2024-10-07 |title=Govt imposes ban on Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1863545 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=Our |date=2024-10-12 |title=PTM ban to remain in force, says governor |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2502219/ptm-ban-to-remain-in-force-says-governor |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} The government

The PTM gained prominence after Naqeebullah Mehsud, accused of militant connections, was killed by police in Karachi on January 20, 2018. Human rights groups note that the war on terrorism has served as a pretense for authorities to persecute Pashtuns, with thousands of young Pashtuns like Mehsud killed or abducted by authorities on shaky charges. Due to their dominance of the Taliban, Pashtuns overall have been branded as Islamists or militants.

On January 26, 2018, Pashteen and his 20 companions began a protest march from Dera Ismail Khan.{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1662900/1-pashtun-spring-bloom/|title=A 'Pashtun spring' bloom?|date=2018-03-17|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2018-11-02|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202160835/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1662900/1-pashtun-spring-bloom/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/11/opinion/pashtun-protests-pakistan.html|title=The Military Says Pashtuns Are Traitors. We Just Want Our Rights|website=The New York Times|author=Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-date=February 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153534/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/11/opinion/pashtun-protests-pakistan.html|url-status=live}} Many people joined the march along the way, and it reached Peshawar on January 28.{{Cite news|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/191100/long-march-naqeeb-killing-reaches-peshawar/|title=Long march against Naqeeb killing reaches Peshawar|date=2018-01-29|work=Daily Times|access-date=2018-02-07|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106221908/https://dailytimes.com.pk/191100/long-march-naqeeb-killing-reaches-peshawar/|url-status=live}} Upon reaching Islamabad on February 1, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement organized a sit-in called "All Pashtun National Jirga". The jirga condemned the fake encounter killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year old Pashtun shopkeeper from Waziristan, perpetrated by the Karachi Police under Rao Anwar Ahmed Khan. Among other demands, the jirga also appealed the government to set up a judicial inquiry for Naqeebullah Mehsud, as well as for all the other Pashtuns murdered extrajudicially in police encounters.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theweek.in/news/world/why-are-the-pashtun-angry-durand-line-afghanistan-pakistan-anwarrao.html|title=Decades of suffering leave the Pashtun youth angry|date=2018-02-06|work=The Week|access-date=2018-02-07|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226074011/https://www.theweek.in/news/world/why-are-the-pashtun-angry-durand-line-afghanistan-pakistan-anwarrao.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/world/asia/pakistan-pashtun-long-march.html|title=In Pakistan, Long-Suffering Pashtuns Find Their Voice|date=2018-02-06|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106221855/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/world/asia/pakistan-pashtun-long-march.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/pashtun-protest-islamabad/4248586.html|title=Pashtuns End Protest in Islamabad, Vow to Reconvene if Demands Not Met|date=2018-02-10|work=Voice of America|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226074028/https://www.voanews.com/a/pashtun-protest-islamabad/4248586.html|url-status=live}} On 13 March 2018 Human Rights Watch seconded the call to investigate Mehsud's killers and called on the Pakistani government to drop criminal cases against Manzoor Pashteen and other protest leaders.

There was grand gathering of PTM in the center of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar on 8 April 2018.[http://www.dw.com/en/pakistans-manzoor-pashteen-pashtuns-are-fed-up-with-war/a-43336984 Pakistan's Manzoor Pashteen: 'Pashtuns are fed up with war'.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413171613/http://www.dw.com/en/pakistans-manzoor-pashteen-pashtuns-are-fed-up-with-war/a-43336984 |date=2018-04-13 }} dw.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/287941-public-meeting-in-mir-ali-pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-demands-removal-of-checkpoints-in-nwa.html|title=Public meeting in Mir Ali: Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement demands removal of checkpoints in NWA|date=2018-03-03|work=The News|access-date=2018-04-11|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226074005/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/287941-public-meeting-in-mir-ali-pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-demands-removal-of-checkpoints-in-nwa.html|url-status=live}}

The PTM demands an end to the extrajudicial killings and disappearances, and what they allege to be the Pakistani military establishment's policy of labeling Taliban groups as either "good" or "bad" depending on whether they support the state of Pakistan. A PTM official accused both state institutions and the 'good Taliban' of threatening the PTM. They also demand removal of landmines from northwestern tribal areas, and that the army cease demolishing houses of Pashtuns accused of militant ties.

In 2019, following the Kharqamar incident, a clash on 26 May between PTM supporters and Pakistani troops that left at least 13 dead, Pashteen spoke to Deutsche Welle in an interview. He accused authorities of firing on demonstrators and suppressing media reports, as well as attempting to rig elections in tribal areas where PTM candidates were likely to win. He denied anti-state and anti-Pakistan sentiment, saying that the PTM is anti-terrorism, while accusing the army of involvement in such activities.

Manzoor Pashteen, and the PTM, have been vocal about civilian deaths resulting from Pakistan's "war on terror" in which many innocent civilians lost their lives in Northwestern Pakistan during air campaigns. A number of cases highlighted by the PTM and investigated independently by the BBC came to light in a 2019 report titled [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48139648 "Uncovering Pakistan's secret human rights abuses"]. Reacting to the report, Pashteen told the BBC, "It has taken us almost 15 years of suffering and humiliation to gather courage to speak up, and to spread awareness about how the military trampled our constitutional rights through both direct action and a policy of support for the militants."{{Cite news |date=2020-01-27 |title=Manzoor Pashteen: Activist who dared to challenge Pakistan army held |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51262639 |access-date=2024-10-15 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2019-06-01 |title=Uncovering Pakistan's secret human rights abuses |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48139648 |access-date=2024-10-15 |language=en-GB}}

Ahead of the jirga to held in October 2024 that attracted a large number of leaders, according to Manzoor Pashteen, his rights movement’s teams were subjected to physical harassment by the Pakistan state authorities during surveys in the tribal region. He said, "Jirga is an integral part of our [Pashtun] culture and nobody will be allowed to prevent us from holding them for the resolution of our grievances.”{{Cite web |last=Shinwari |first=Ibrahim |date=2024-10-13 |title=Manzoor Pashteen vows to continue fighting for Pakhtun rights |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1864813/manzoor-pashteen-vows-to-continue-fighting-for-pakhtun-rights |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

On 5 September 2017, Pashteen and his father, along with two other human rights activists, Jamal Malyar and Shah Faisal Ghazi, were detained by Pakistani security forces at Barwand check post in Tiarza Tehsil, South Waziristan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/09/06/three-human-rights-activists-released-in-south-waziristan/amp/|title=Three human rights activists released in South Waziristan|website=Pakistan Today|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-04|archive-date=2020-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411180417/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/09/06/three-human-rights-activists-released-in-south-waziristan/amp/|url-status=live}} Pashteen was beaten up under the allegation that his human rights campaign damaged military morale. “I said, you are building your morale by killing innocent children and then calling us terrorists,” Pashteen later told. As a result of the social media campaign for them by their supporters, they were released on 6 September by the military.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/other/manzoor-pashteen-pakistan-social-media|title=Meet the 23-year-old activist who could change Pakistan|website=www.prospectmagazine.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-10-18|archive-date=2018-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018043058/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/other/manzoor-pashteen-pakistan-social-media|url-status=live}}

On 27 January 2020, Pashteen was arrested by the police in Peshawar on allegations of sedition. The arrest was criticized by then Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-arrest-activist-idUSKBN1ZQ22R|title=Pakistani rights activist arrested on charges of sedition, protests threatened|date=January 27, 2020|newspaper=Reuters}} Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Pakistani authorities to release Pashteen and drop the charges against him, saying "using criminal laws to chill free expression and political opposition has no place in a democracy."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-pashtun-rights-leader-pashteen-released-bail/30435955.html|title=Pashtun Rights Leader In Pakistan Released On Bail|date=February 15, 2020|website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}} During a protest against the arrest outside the National Press Club in Islamabad on 28 January, PTM leader and member of the National Assembly Mohsin Dawar, Ismat Shahjahan and Ammar Rashid of the Awami Workers Party (AWP), and 26 other protesters were arrested.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/1/28/pakistani-police-detain-mp-activists-at-pashtun-rights-rally|title=Pakistani police detain MP, activists at Pashtun rights rally|first=Asad|last=Hashim|website=Al Jazeera}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1531237|title=PTM's Dawar released; 23 others sent to Adiala Jail|date=2020-01-29|website=Dawn|language=en-US|access-date=2022-05-10}} Ismat Shahjahan and Mohsin Dawar were released on 29 January but Ammar Rashid and 22 others were sent to jail on sedition charges; all charges were dropped against them on 17 February.{{cite news |last1=Naseer |first1=Tahir |title='This is Pakistan, not India,' says IHC chief justice after cases against AWP, PTM protesters dropped |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1535032 |work=DAWN.COM |date=17 February 2020 |language=en |access-date=18 February 2020 |archive-date=18 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218210804/https://www.dawn.com/news/1535032 |url-status=live }} On 2 February, at least 43 activists were briefly arrested from other protests held in solidarity with Pashteen in Dera Ismail Khan, Karachi and Faisalabad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/3/pakistan-court-grants-bail-to-activists-drops-sedition-charges|title=Pakistan court grants bail to activists, drops sedition charges|website=Al Jazeera}} After almost a month in jail, Pashteen was released on 25 February and was received by a large number of PTM workers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1536600|title=PTM's Manzoor Pashteen released from jail|date=February 25, 2020|website=Dawn}}

On 28 March 2021, the police arrested Pashteen in Kohat and Mohsin Dawar in Karak to prevent both of them from travelling to Bannu to join and lead the Janikhel protest march. The protest was called off on 29 March after an agreement was signed between the protesters and Mahmood Khan, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following which Pashteen and Dawar were released.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40079081|title=Janikhel tribe calls off sit-in|first=Ali|last=Hussain|date=March 30, 2021|website=Brecorder}}

On December 4, 2023, Pashteen was arrested under mysterious circumstances. He was enroute to Turbat, where Baloch activists were protesting state-inflicted injustices when, according to eyewitnesses, Pakistani forces fired at his vehicle, injuring a passerby. He was then arrested. On December 6, his supporters assembled outside the White House, advocating for his safe release.{{Cite web |title=Anti-War Advocate Accused of Terrorism in Pakistan, Inspiring Global Protests |url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/anti-war-advocate-accused-of-terrorism-in-pakistan-inspiring-global-protests/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}} On December 7, an Islamabad court granted a seven-day remand for Pashteen, arrested in Chaman on Monday. His lawyer claimed Pashteen was "abducted" from Balochistan and produced in court three days later, citing an alleged car attack. Despite opposition, the court ordered police to present Pashteen again on December 14.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/12/07/ptms-manzoor-pashteen-handed-over-to-police-on-seven-day-physical-remand|title=PTM's Manzoor Pashteen handed over to police on seven-day physical remand|author=Staff Report|date=December 7, 2023|website=Pakistan Today}}

Many Afghan activists support the PTM in solidarity for Pashtuns in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Afghan government has praised Pashteen's work, with President Ashraf Ghani supporting the march in February, leading some groups to accuse him and the PTM of "foreign backing". In May 2019 Major General Asif Ghafoor, serving as a spokesman for the Pakistani military, alleged that Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies were funding the PTM.{{Cite news |last1=Shah |first1=Mudassar |last2=Jillani |first2=Shahzeb |date=2019-06-05 |title=Pashtun movement leader: 'Pakistani army is afraid of our popularity' |language=en-GB |work=Deutsche Welle |url=https://www.dw.com/en/pashtun-movement-leader-pakistani-army-is-afraid-of-our-popularity/a-49069682 |access-date=2021-09-29 |archive-date=2021-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524183958/https://www.dw.com/en/pashtun-movement-leader-pakistani-army-is-afraid-of-our-popularity/a-49069682 |url-status=live }}

Pashteen has rejected the allegations of being a foreign agent for Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India or the National Directorate of Security of Afghanistan.{{cite news|url=https://eurasiantimes.com/are-india-afghanistan-supporting-manzoor-pashteen/|title=Are India & Afghanistan Supporting Manzoor Pashteen?|date=28 January 2020|access-date=30 July 2021|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730222054/https://eurasiantimes.com/are-india-afghanistan-supporting-manzoor-pashteen/|url-status=live}} In another instance, following the Asma Jahangir Conference held in Lahore, Manzoor Pashteen was booked under terrorism charges by Pakistani authorities for provoking resistance against the armed forces and the state institutions during his speech.{{Cite web |author=News Desk |date=2022-10-23 |title=Anti-army speech: Manzoor Pashteen booked under terror charges |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2383303/manzoor-pashteen-booked-under-terrorism-charges-for-anti-military-speech |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title='ریاستی اداروں کے خلاف تقریر:' منظور پشتین پر مقدمہ |url=https://www.independenturdu.com/node/118626 |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Independent Urdu |language=ur}}

During the recent organization of Pashtun National Court by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Khyber District on 12 October 2024,{{Cite web |last=Shinwari |first=Ibrahim |date=2024-10-12 |title=Thousands turn up as PTM jirga begins in Jamrud |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1864609 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} the internationally proscribed terrorist organization Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),{{Cite web |title=TEHRIK-E TALIBAN PAKISTAN (TTP) {{!}} Security Council |url=https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list/summaries/entity/tehrik-e-taliban-pakistan-(ttp) |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=main.un.org}} in an unprecedented move, announced a unilateral temporary ceasefire in the region in anticipation of the event, which gave rise to speculations regarding emerging nexus between proscribed terrorist organization and PTM leadership.{{Cite web |last=TDI |date=2024-10-19 |title=TTP and PTM: Threats to Pashtun Society |url=https://thediplomaticinsight.com/ttp-and-ptm-threats-to-pashtun-society/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Diplomatic Insight |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=BR Web |date=2024-10-08 |title=Ban on PTM based on concrete evidence, says Tarar |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40325725/ban-on-ptm-based-on-concrete-evidence-says-tarar |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}

{{Main|Pashteen hat}}

Pashteen usually wears the Pashteen cap at public events and rallies, leading to the originally known "Mazari hat" becoming an iconic symbol of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, and being widely renamed after him as the "Pashteen cap" or "Manzoor cap".{{cite news|last1=Alikozai|first1=Hasib Danish|title=Hats Proliferate as Symbol of Pashtun Protest Movement|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/hats-symbol-pashtun-protest-movement/4335923.html|access-date=16 May 2018|work=Voice of America|date=6 April 2018|language=en|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406070519/https://www.voanews.com/a/hats-symbol-pashtun-protest-movement/4335923.html|url-status=live}}

• Asma Jahangir
• Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
• Asma Jahangir Conference
• Pakistan

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{{Pashtun Tahafuz Movement|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pashteen, Manzoor}}

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