Voices of Pashtuns echoes in Lahore; demands end of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings of members of community

Lahore, April 23: The voice of Pashtuns against the apathy and human rights violation caused by Pakistani government and Army is strengthening day by day. Notably, a second time in the month, over 1 lakh Pashtuns came on the streets of Lahore despite getting no permission from local police and held a massive rally and demanded an to alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of the members of their community.

 

On Sunday, over 1 lakh Pashtuns led by the young activist Manzoor Pashteen who is a founder leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement held a huge rally at Lahore's Mochi Gate and called for an end to alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of the members of their community. Protestors marched on the streets of Lahore carrying posters, banners and placards along with 'aazadi' slogans.

However, many local media outlets were refrained from covering the event under the pressure of Pakistan Army but the news came out on the social media through Twitter. The official twitter account of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement posted many videos and images that showed thousands of protestors were gathered in Lahore against Pakistani Army and government.

During the mega rally, it was also announced that one more protest rally would be held in Karachi on May 12 to condemn the 2007 violence. Importantly, Pakistan’s NaPak activities have left more than half of the country to fire. As the days are passing, more the locals are coming on the roads against Pakistani government and troops over human rights violation and apathy they are facing.

On 8 April this year, nearly 1 lakh Pashtuns came on the streets against Pakistani government and troops and held a massive protest and demanded international community to intervene in war crimes being committed in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The movement against Pakistani government and Army was started by young Pashtun activists who are demanding an end of human rights violations in the country's tribal regions. They have also been calling for the removal of military checkpoints in tribal areas and an end to enforced disappearances in which suspects are arrested by security forces without due process.

Interestingly, not only Pashtuns but Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindhudesh have raised its voice against Pakistan’s apathy towards them and against CPEC project. Out of four, three territories are asking for its independence since many years.