Over 1 lakh Pashtuns walked on streets of Peshawar, raised slogans against Pakistani govt; demands 'aazadi'

Peshawar, April 9: On Sunday, over 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).

 

Notably, 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.

Lakhs of people marched on the streets of Peshawar carrying posters, banners and placards along with 'aazadi' slogans, which demanded the international community to intervene in war crimes being committed tribal areas against Pashtuns. Hundreds of other people attending the rally held photographs of their missing relatives, including captions with their names and the dates they went missing.

Pashtuns also demanded the removal of military checkpoints in tribal areas and an end to enforced disappearances of their loved ones. The protest was mainly led by Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), or Pashtun Protection Movement.

Young activist Manzoor Pashteen who is a founder leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement while addressing a gathering said that Pakistan's government needs to form a judicial commission to investigate alleged extra-judicial killings in Pashtun-dominated regions of Pakistan. He said police and security officials must bring before the courts all Pashtuns who have been detained and listed by authorities as missing.

If found not guilty of allegations against them, Pashteen said, authorities must free detained suspects. Pashteen also added that Pakistan's government needs to clear landmines from the war-torn tribal regions along the border with Afghanistan.

Importantly, 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.