Pashtun Tahafuz Movement

Pashtun-inhabited territories have been a war zone since the early 1980s, during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and United States and following the conflict between Western and Islamist forces. PTM therefore campaigns against the continuing war, blaming both the Taliban and the Pakistani military for the destruction.{{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 |url-status=live |access-date=2021-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525004919/https://www.dw.com/en/pashtuns-rise-up-against-war-taliban-and-pakistani-military/a-43309299 |archive-date=2021-05-25}}

The movement was founded as Mahsud Tahafuz Movement in May 2014 by eight students in Dera Ismail Khan as an initiative for removing landmines from Waziristan and other parts of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, affected by the war in North-West Pakistan.{{Cite news|date=2018-03-11|title=د پښتنو منظور پښتون له کومه راغی؟|language=ps|work=BBC Pashto|url=http://bbc.in/2p9q0vg|access-date=2018-03-12}}

The movement rose to prominence in January 2018 when it began a justice movement for Naqeebullah Mehsud, who was extrajudicially killed in a fake encounter staged by the police officer Rao Anwar in Karachi.{{Cite news|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/199383/young-pashtuns-shown-mirror-mainstream-pakistan/|title=Young Pashtuns have shown the mirror to 'mainstream' Pakistan|date=2018-02-11|work=Daily Times|access-date=2018-02-12|language=en-US}} When the movement gained popularity among the Pashtuns in February 2018, the word "Mahsud" in its name, which referred to the Mahsud tribe from Waziristan, was changed into "Pashtun" to refer to all Pashtuns.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

The movement, which has inspired global Pashtun solidarity, has been dominated by youth, and thrives on social media while lacking significant coverage in mainstream media. According to Saleem Shah, it has challenged military power where typical Pashtun nationalist parties have not dared. However, the PTM lacks organizational structure and a political manifesto, as of 2018.

In November 2018, PTM launched a justice movement for Tahir Dawar, a police officer and Pashto poet who was abducted from the capital Islamabad and tortured to death, with his corpse found 18 days after disappearance in the Dur Baba District of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.{{cite news |title=A cross-border mystery: Timeline of SP Tahir Khan Dawar's murder |url=https://www.samaa.tv/news/2018/11/a-cross-border-mystery-timeline-of-sp-tahir-khan-dawars-murder/ |access-date=1 December 2018 |agency=SAMAA TV|date=15 November 2018}} PTM, as well as Tahir's family, demanded that Tahir's murder must be investigated through an international commission rather than a Pakistani one because the case involved two countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1446194|title=SP Tahir Dawar's brother rejects JIT, calls for investigation at 'international level'|website=Dawn|date=17 November 2018|access-date=12 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/430467-tahir-dawar-s-kidnapping-murder-probe-family-reiterates-demand-for-international-commission|title=Tahir Dawar's kidnapping, murder probe: Family reiterates demand for international commission|website=The News International|date=11 February 2019|access-date=11 February 2019}} PTM again gained international press coverage in February 2019 when the Balochistan Police allegedly extrajudicially murdered one of the leaders of PTM, Arman Loni, in Loralai. Protests followed which led to the detention of more than 20 PTM activists, including Gulalai Ismail and Abdullah Nangyal.{{cite web |title=Activist Gulalai Ismail thanks PM Khan for 'ensuring her release' after 30-hour detention |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1462376 |website=Dawn |date=7 February 2019 |access-date=7 February 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Niazi |first1=Abdullah |title=Abdullah Nangyal, Gulalai Ismail among dozens of PTM workers held in capital |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/02/05/abdullah-nangyal-gulalai-ismail-among-dozens-of-ptm-workers-held-in-capital/ |website=Pakistan Today |access-date=6 February 2019}}{{cite web |title=Rights activist Gulalai Ismail arrested from Islamabad |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1462191/rights-activist-gulalai-ismail-arrested-from-islamabad-reports |website=Dawn |date=6 February 2019 |access-date=7 February 2019}}{{cite web|title=Over 20 PTM activists arrested in Islamabad|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/1462104|website=Dawn|date=6 February 2019|access-date=16 February 2019}} In May 2020, after the assassination of PTM leader Arif Wazir, another wave of widespread protests was held during which several PTM activists, including Gilaman Wazir and Nadeem Askar, were arrested by Pakistani authorities.{{Cite web|url=https://sayhoon.com/post/11403/english|title=Amid complete media blackout, PTM stages worldwide protests against killing of Arif Wazir|website=Sayhoon News|date=6 May 2020|access-date=7 May 2020}} The Pashteen hat (also known as the Mazari hat) has become the most iconic symbol of PTM, as Manzoor Pashteen regularly wears it at public rallies and events.{{cite news|last1=Alikozai|first1=Hasib Danish|date=6 April 2018|title=Hats Proliferate as Symbol of Pashtun Protest Movement|language=en|work=Voice of America|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/hats-symbol-pashtun-protest-movement/4335923.html|access-date=16 May 2018}}

{{Main|Kharqamar incident}}

On 26 May 2019, there was a clash between the Pakistan Army and PTM activists who were holding a protest gathering near the Kharqamar check post in North Waziristan. To stop the demonstration, the security forces killed at least 13 PTM supporters and injured over 25 others. The military said PTM members attacked security forces before any shooting began and injured several soldiers, but the army showed no evidence to contradict the witness accounts and videos, that largely pointed to the contrary.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/world/asia/pakistan-pashtun-dissent.html|title='Time Is Up': Pakistan's Army Targets Protest Movement, Stifling Dissent|last1=Masood|first1=Salman|date=2019-05-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-31|last2=Mashal|first2=Mujib|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=ur-Rehman|first3=Zia|quote=A military spokesman said that its members attacked and wounded security forces before any shooting started — though the army has shown no evidence to counter witness accounts and videos largely pointing to the contrary.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/05/31/bilawal-demands-production-orders-for-ali-wazir-mohsin-dawar/|title=Ruckus in NA after govt blames PTM leaders for 'discord in House'|date=2019-06-01|website=Pakistan Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/05/26/3-killed-15-injured-in-ptm-army-clash-in-north-waziristan/|title=3 killed, 15 injured in 'PTM-Army clash' in North Waziristan|website=Pakistan Today|access-date=2019-07-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/solider-injured-in-attack-on-north-waziristan-631401.html|title=Soldier Injured In Attack On North Waziristan Checkpost Passes Away|website=UrduPoint|language=en|access-date=2019-07-05}} Several PTM activists, including two members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, were arrested by the security forces after the incident and curfew was imposed in the area. A day after this incident, the opposition parties walked out of the National Assembly of Pakistan in protest, and asked Asad Qaiser, who was the Speaker of the National Assembly and a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to produce Wazir and Dawar before the parliament so that they could explain their viewpoint about the incident at the parliament sessions, but the speaker refused.{{cite news|date=28 May 2019|title=Opposition questions PM's silence on N. Waziristan incident|work=Dawn|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1484997|access-date=16 June 2019}}

After almost four months in jail, Wazir and Dawar were released on bail on 21 September 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1506491|title=MNAs Ali Wazir, Mohsin Dawar released from jail as bail goes into effect|date=September 21, 2019|website=Dawn}} On 14 October 2020, the government withdrew the Kharqamar case against PTM, and Wazir and Dawar were acquitted of the charges against them.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-14|title=KP government withdraws Kharqamar case against PTM leaders, others|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1585031|access-date=2020-10-14|website=Dawn|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Kharqamar cases withdrawn by KP govt|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/10/14/kharqamar-cases-withdrawn-by-kp-govt/|access-date=2020-10-14|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk}}

In October 2024, the Pakistani government banned the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), citing security concerns. A government notification labeled the PTM as a "proscribed organization," accusing it of engaging in activities deemed prejudicial to the peace and stability of the country. The ban comes amid growing tensions and increased dissent, particularly regarding the PTM's vocal criticism of the military's role in alleged human rights violations, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Pashtun regions.

The move to outlaw the PTM drew immediate backlash from human rights organizations including Amnesty International. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the ban, calling it an "extreme decision" and demanded its reversal. According to the HRCP, PTM has consistently advocated for its cause through non-violent and constitutional means. Despite the ban, PTM has enjoyed widespread support in Pakistan's Pashtun-majority regions and neighboring Afghanistan, where its demand for justice for Pashtuns resonates strongly.

The timing of the ban also coincided with the scheduled Khyber Jirga, a traditional Pashtun council, further intensifying tensions between the movement's supporters and the state.

The main demands of PTM presented during the Pashtun Long March's gatherings in 2018 included, among others:

The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement has highly demanded that landmines must be removed from the Pashtun tribal areas. The PTM leaders have criticized Pakistan's military establishment for terrorizing lands of Pashtun people several times. They adopted a famous Balochi slogan "ye jo dehshatgardi hai, iske peeche wardi hai" (Those in uniform are behind terrorism).{{Cite web|title=Redefining citizenship in Pakistan|url=https://sayhoon.com/post/11221/english|access-date=2021-06-27|website=sayhoon.com|language=en-US}} PTM also demanded several times that Rao Anwar and other police officers involved must be punished for the alleged murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud. PTM also demands a truth and reconciliation commission must be established for all the people who are killed extrajudicially like Naqeebullah Mehsud in alleged fake encounters by the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan The missing persons who are imprisoned at unknown places must be tried in a court of law, and forced disappearances must be stopped.

PTM demands that torture and collective punishment against entire villages and tribes in the Pashtun tribal areas, especially after a violent incident, must be stopped{{Cite web|title=Manzoor Pashteen: Our protest is non-violent and constitutional|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/manzoor-pashteen-protest-violent-constitutional-180409083747159.html|access-date=2018-04-28|website=www.aljazeera.com}} The humiliation of locals at army checkpoints in the Pashtun areas must be ended.

File:Pashtun Tahafuz Movement Bannu 2018.jpg attended by thousands of Pashtuns.]]

On 26 January 2018, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement organized a protest march starting from Dera Ismail Khan. The march had 22 participants initially, but many people joined it along the way, as it passed through Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Domel, Karak, Kohat, and Darra Adam Khel, reaching Peshawar on 28 January.{{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}}{{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=11 February 2019|access-date=15 February 2019}}{{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}} Then after passing through Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, and Tarnol, the march reached Islamabad, where a sit-in called "All Pashtun National Jirga" was organized from 1 February outside the National Press Club. The jirga condemned the murder of the Pashtun labourer and aspiring model, Naqeebullah Mehsud, who was shot dead by police force in Karachi during an alleged encounter, and the alleged state oppression against the Pashtuns.{{Cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/02/pashtun-tribes-stage-unprecedented-protest-in-pakistan/|title=Pashtun Tribes Stage Unprecedented Protest in Pakistan|date=2018-02-08|work=The Diplomat|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en-US}} It asked the government to set up a judicial inquiry for Naqeebullah Mehsud, as well as for all the other Pashtuns murdered extrajudicially in police encounters. The jirga demanded to stop racial profiling of the Pashtuns in Pakistan, and to bring the Pashtun missing persons before the court of law, so that those who are innocent but held could be freed.{{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}} The jirga also demanded Pakistan Army to guarantee that they will not abduct or open fire on innocents in the tribal areas, or use violence or collective punishment against entire villages and tribes, and that they will not impose the frequent curfews on the movement of locals even after minor incidents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/02/03/3rd-day-of-pashtun-sit-in-protesters-refuse-to-budge-till-acceptance-of-demands/|title=3rd day of Pashtun sit-in: Protesters refuse to budge till acceptance of demands|date=2018-02-03|work=Pakistan Today|access-date=2018-02-08|language=en-US}} Another demand was to remove all landminess planted in the tribal areas, which have resulted in many civilian casualties. The protesters said that since 2009, more than 35 people including children had been killed due to landmines in South Waziristan alone.{{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}}

The sit-in in Islamabad ended on 10 February, but the organizers of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement announced that they would reconvene the protest if their demands were not fulfilled by the government.{{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}} Advisor to Prime Minister on political affairs, Engr. Amir Muqam appeared in front of the protesters with the hand-written agreement from the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that included three clauses, agreeing to apprehend Rao Anwar, speed-up the clearing of Mines in South Waziristan, an intermediate college establishment in name of Naqeebullah Mehsud, and promised to addressed "genuine gravencies" raised by Jirga members. Muqam also told the protestors, "the way you held the peaceful protest is really commendable and others should learn a lesson to record their protests this way. I'll stand by you in trying times and you can come to discuss with me all of your legitimate issues anytime."{{Cite news|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/199046/pms-written-assurance-paves-way-wrapping-10-day-dharna/|title=Pashtun Dharna conditionally ends after PM's assurances - Daily Times|date=2018-02-10|work=Daily Times|access-date=2018-04-11|language=en-US}}

On 13 May 2018, family members of missing Pakistanis participated in a protest rally by Pashtun Tahafuz Movement in Karachi, Pakistan by holding photos of their relatives.{{cite web | url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/01/05/protest-and-purdah-in-pakistan/ | title=Protest and Purdah in Pakistan | date=5 January 2021 }}

{{main|PTM public gatherings}}

PTM has held public demonstrations at various places, including Bajaur, Bannu, Chaman, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan, Islamabad, Kabul, Karachi, Khyber, Killa Saifullah, Lahore, Loralai, North Waziristan, Peshawar, Quetta, South Waziristan, Swabi, Swat, Battagram, Tank, Zhob, as well as in several Western countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1401659|title=Young Pashteen and his political naivety|date=15 April 2018}}{{cite web | url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/europe/ptm-organizes-anti-pakistan-protests-throughout-europe20220214210150/ | title=PTM organizes anti-Pakistan protests throughout Europe }}

The powershows and rallys of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement are not shown by mainstream media channels as they are not allowed by the Establishment,{{Cite web|date=2019-08-22|title=Pakistan's media forced into self-censorship|url=https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2019/08/pakistans-media-forced-into-self-censorship/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=Index on Censorship|language=en-GB}} leaving social media as the primary channel for communicating with the rest of Pakistan and strengthening the narrative that the PTM is being ignored by the system.{{cite news |title=Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement |url=https://nation.com.pk/28-Mar-2018/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement |access-date=23 November 2019 |work=The Nation (Pakistan) |publisher=Nawaiwaqt Group |date=28 March 2018 |quote=Mainstream television channels and media outlets are not reporting and covering the activities of the group. Their only medium to interact with the rest of Pakistan and to keep them updated is through social media. This further strengthens their narrative of being sidelined and ignored by the system.}} In February 2019, Khyber TV, a Pakistani Pashto-language channel, chose not to air an interview with Manzoor Pashteen because of pressure from the military.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-09|title=A movement of millennials in Pakistan is dubbed the Pashtun Spring|url=https://m.dw.com/en/a-movement-of-millennials-in-pakistan-is-dubbed-the-pashtun-spring/a-48222538|access-date=2022-06-15|website=Deutsche Welle}}

On 23 March 2018, the PTM meeting was scheduled to be held in Peshawar University, but Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Islam Zeb, issued an order under section 144 CrPC, imposing ban on political meetings in University and stated any violation against the order shall be preceded against u/s 188 PPC and order will be exercised "for 30 days unless modified or withdrawn." Later the meeting was held in Baghi-e-Naran, Hayatabad with 200 person attending the gathering.{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1671763/1-section-144-pashtun-tahafuz-movement-barred-campuses/|title=Section 144: Pashtun Tahafuz Movement barred from campuses - The Express Tribune|date=2018-03-29|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2018-04-11|language=en-US}}

The movement's anthem is "Da Sanga Azadi Da?", which means "What kind of freedom is this?". Many Pashtun's have discovered their voice with this anthem and it encloses the various grievances they have from being caught between the militants and the military.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1399271|title=Pakhtun renaissance|last=Khan|first=Ghulam Qadir|date=2018-04-03|work=DAWN.COM|access-date=2018-05-07|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43827660|title=The young tribesman rattling Pakistan's army|last=Khan|first=M. Ilyas|date=2018-04-23|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-05-07|language=en-GB}}

On 26 April 2019, Mohsin Dawar tweeted that he and his fellow National Assembly member Ali Wazir were barred from holding a press conference at National Press Club (NPC) despite having prior bookings.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mjdawar/status/1121776032015630337|title=Today, me & @Aliwazirna50, elected representatives of Waziristan were not allowed to hold a press conference at the Islamabad Press Club despite having a booking. We know who is behind this, but we also wonder whether they know what they are doing to the unity of this federation?|last=Dawar|first=Mohsin|date=2019-04-26|website=@mjdawar|language=en|access-date=2019-07-03}} Many prominent politicians including Pakistan Peoples Party's Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Farhatullah Babar and Bushra Gohar condemned NPC for their move. The next day, NPC issued statement claiming that the lawmakers had not made any prior bookings.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BushraGohar/status/1121848114770579457|title=What a shame? Darta hain bandonkon walla purAman #PTM #Pashtun naujowano sa! #PakMediaUnderSiege|last=Gohar|first=Bushra|date=2019-04-26|website=@BushraGohar|language=hi|access-date=2019-07-08}}{{cite news|newspaper=Dawn|access-date=3 May 2019|date=27 April 2019|title=National Press Club says no prior booking made for axed PTM press conference|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1478756|last=Sanaullah|first=Khan}} The Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told the journalist Hamid Mir not to invite PTM members on media in response to a question by the journalist as to whether the media houses should invite PTM leaders on TV channels.{{cite news|access-date=3 May 2019|date=30 April 2019|work=Gandara|title=Pashtun Activists Denied Media Time After Military Claims|url=https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/pashtun-activists-denied-media-time-after-military-claims/29912941.html}} On 29 April 2019, Asif Ghafoor said PTM would no longer be tolerated. "Their time is up,"{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/world/asia/pakistan-pashtun-dissent.html|title='Time Is Up': Pakistan's Army Targets Protest Movement, Stifling Dissent|last1=Masood|first1=Salman|date=2019-05-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-03|last2=Mashal|first2=Mujib|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=ur-Rehman|first3=Zia}} he said of PTM at the press conference.{{cite news | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1479183/time-is-up-dg-ispr-warns-ptm-leadership-in-press-conference | title='Time is up': DG ISPR warns PTM leadership in press conference | date=29 April 2019 | newspaper=Dawn | location=Pakistan | access-date=30 June 2019 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/26/world/asia/pakistan-protest-pashtun.html|title=Clash Between Protesters and Soldiers Turns Deadly in Pakistan|last1=Khan|first1=Ismail|date=2019-05-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-03|last2=Masood|first2=Salman|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

{{Main|Criticism of the Pakistan Armed Forces}}

PTM is critical of the Pakistan Army and accuses the state of violating the basic human rights of the Pashtuns,{{cite news|title=The PTM in Pakistan: Another Bangladesh in the making?|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/ptm-pakistan-bangladesh-making-190111140428304.html|author=Taha Siddiqui|website=Al Jazeera|date=2018-01-13|access-date=2018-01-13|language=en}} but the Pakistan Army has claimed that PTM is backed by foreign powers and their gatherings are "engineered".{{cite news|title=Pashtun rights group accuses Pakistan army of abuses|url=https://apnews.com/9e469749b9e94086af1b2cf07103acff|author=Kathy Gannon|website=Associated Press News|language=en}}{{cite news|title='Engineered protests' won't be allowed, says army chief|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1401345|website=Dawn|language=en}} PTM claims that as a result, news organizations in Pakistan have been pressured to ignore PTM, and university professors have been forced to identify the students attending PTM's protest gatherings. Some Pakistani politicians and journalists also view PTM as working on a foreign or Pashtun nationalist agenda. However, PTM's leadership has claimed that they are protesting through peaceful means within the Constitution of Pakistan.{{cite news|title=Pakistan's Counterproductive Dismissal of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/05/pakistans-counterproductive-dismissal-of-the-pashtun-tahafuz-movement/|language=en}}

PTM also says that Pakistan Army has sheltered militants, especially from Haqqani Network.{{Cite news |last1=Hadid |first1=Diaa |last2=Sattar |first2=Abdul |date=April 7, 2018 |title=Caught Between The Military And Militants, Pakistan's Pashtuns Fight For Rights |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/04/07/598045758/caught-between-the-military-and-militants-pakistans-pashtuns-fight-for-rights |access-date=17 October 2024 |work=npr}}

Gulalai Ismail, a leading PTM member, received death threats by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for speaking enforced disappearancess allegedly carried out by the Pakistani military.{{cite web |last1=McDonnell |first1=Tim |title=Escape To New York: Afraid For Her Life, A Pakistani Activist Seeks Asylum |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/10/02/765677629/afraid-for-her-life-a-pakistani-activist-vanishes-and-escapes-to-new-york |website=NPR |access-date=4 March 2020 |date=2 October 2019}} Due to the allegations of treason against Gulalai Ismail by the Pakistan police, she went into hiding and eventually took refuge in the United States.

PTM leader Ali Wazir is also known for his vocal criticism of Pakistan's military establishment.{{cite news |title=From Gutters and War Zones |url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/from-gutters-and-war-zones/ |access-date=25 August 2018 |work=Newsweek Pakistan |date=23 July 2018 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002524/http://newsweekpakistan.com/from-gutters-and-war-zones/ |url-status=live }} He blames the Pakistan Armed Forces for human rights violations during its large-scale military operations, including Operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan in 2009, during which time he was forced to stay in Dera Ismail Khan due to the insecurity in Waziristan.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/03/08/the-pashtuns-year-of-living-dangerously/|title=The Pashtuns' Year of Living Dangerously|website=The American Interest|date=March 8, 2019|access-date=March 9, 2019|archive-date=April 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401222257/https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/03/08/the-pashtuns-year-of-living-dangerously/|url-status=live}} On 16 December 2020, Wazir was arrested on allegations of treason by the Sindh Police in Peshawar, where he was present to commemorate the 2014 Peshawar school massacre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/760057-ptm-mna-ali-wazir-arrested-from-peshawar|title=PTM MNA Ali Wazir arrested from Peshawar|access-date=2021-09-01|archive-date=2021-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901162046/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/760057-ptm-mna-ali-wazir-arrested-from-peshawar|url-status=live}} Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Pakistan Army Chief, stated on 1 July 2021 that Wazir would have to apologize for criticizing the Pakistan Army and then he could be released, but Wazir refused to apologize.{{Cite web|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/02-Jul-2021/here-s-what-pakistan-army-chief-commented-about-nawaz-sharif-ali-wazir-in-closed-door-meeting|title=Here's what Pakistan Army chief commented about Nawaz Sharif, Ali Wazir in closed-door meeting|date=July 2, 2021|website=Daily Pakistan Global}}{{Cite web|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/608915-Insult-country-institutions-cant-be-easily-forgiven-Military-top-brass|title=Those maligning country, institutions cannot be easily forgiven: military leadership|website=Dunya News|date=14 February 2008 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/pashtuns-organise-rally-against-pakistan-in-new-york20210802094920/|title=Pashtuns organise rally against Pakistan in New York|website=Asian News International}} On 14 March 2022, the Pashtun National Jirga in Bannu demanded that Wazir be immediately released along with all other political prisoners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/parties-convene-jirga-to-defend-rights-of-pashtuns-in-pakistan20220312205548|title=Parties convene Jirga to defend rights of Pashtuns in Pakistan|date=March 12, 2022|website=Asian News International}}

• Waziristan
• Killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud
• Manzoor Pashteen
• Ali Wazir
• Mohsin Dawar
• Forced disappearances in Pakistan
• Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism
• Targeted killings in Pakistan
• People's Peace Movement (Afghanistan)

{{reflist}}

{{Pashtun Tahafuz Movement}}

Category:2018 in Pakistan

Category:2018 protests

Category:Activism in Pakistan

Category:Ethnic organisations based in Pakistan

Category:Human rights organisations based in Pakistan

Category:Pashtun nationalism

Category:Pashtun rights

Category:Pashtun politics

Category:Politics of Balochistan, Pakistan

Category:Politics of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas

Category:Politics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Category:Protests in Pakistan

Category:Social movements in Afghanistan

Category:Social movements in Pakistan

Category:Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Category:Censorship in Pakistan

Category:Afghanistan–Pakistan relations

Category:Human rights abuses in Pakistan

Category:2014 establishments in Pakistan