Manzoor Pashteen to be exiled from Balochistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following arrest

Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen was arrested by the police in Chaman, Balochistan on Monday. Consequently, the Interior Ministry has decided to shift him to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. With this, Pashteen has been banned from Balochistan, Caretaker Information Minister Balochistan Jan Achakzai has said.

Pashteen was arrested yesterday from Chaman when he was going to speak to a massive sit-in, protesting against the alleged murder of a Baloch student at the hands of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in Turbat.

پشتون تحفظ موومنٹ کے رہنما منظور پشتین ایک قافلے کی شکل میں چمن سے تربت کی طرف جارہے تھے کہ چمن میں فوج اور پولیس نے ان کی گاڑی پر سٹریٹ فائرنگ کردی ہیں، انکی گرفتاری کی کوششیں جاری ہیں، پورا علاقہ فوج، ایف سی اور پولیس نے محاصرہ کر لیا ہے۔

پی ٹی ایم سوشل میڈیا ٹیم

— Manzoor Pashteen (@ManzoorPashteen) December 4, 2023

The Deputy Commissioner of Chaman has claimed that Pashteen was arrested after armed men from his vehicle allegedly opened fire at a police vehicle. PTM leaders have accused law enforcement officers of initiating the gunfire, saying that Pashteen emerged unharmed from the shooting incident. In a video released by PTM on Youtube, member central committee Haji Abdul Samad Khan can be seen relating the incident where people inside their vehicle were also injured, including a woman.

Jan Achakzai stated that Pashteen had addressed the Chaman sit-in without the approval of the administration, referring to PTM as “an anti-state organisation”, reports Express Tribune.

He also stated that an FIR had been lodged against Pashteen by police in Chaman, noting that four people were injured as the PTM chief’s guards opened fire on them.

Renowned Journalist Azaz Syed criticised the arrest as a move against the freedom of speech.

منظور پشتین کی گرفتاری اس بات کا ثبوت ہے کہ ہم سچ سننے اور سمجھنے کے لیے تیار نہیں۔ اگر ملک ٹھیک کرنا ہے تو منظور پشتین کا سچ سن کرمسائل حل کرنا ہونگے۔ پورے پاکستان کو منظور کی فوری رہائی کے لیے آواز اٹھانا ہوگی۔#ReleaseManzoorPashteen #truth #reality #HumanRights… pic.twitter.com/VvmYZFPuue

— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) December 4, 2023

Fellow PTM leader Ali Wazir reasserted his determination to the cause they stand for in face of the oppression of the state.

دھونس دھمکی قید وبند سے ہمارے حوصلے اور جذبات کو تھوڑا نہیں جا سکتا ہمارےعظم و جذبے میں مزید پختگی اور استقامت أٸے گا۔#ReleaseManzoorPashteen#StopStateTerrorism#StopPakiMafia pic.twitter.com/3FUPv4geh0

— Ali Wazir (@Aliwazirna50) December 4, 2023

Salma Khan, member of the PTM, called out the state for using disruptive tactics to create chaos.

#ManzoorPashteen is a figure respected and loved by all Pashtuns, including those who stand opposed to him. It’s both foolish and cruel to attack or arrest him.

State must cease these disruptive tactics that aim to create chaos.#ReleaseManzoorPashteen pic.twitter.com/ujRGCfVFJG

— Salma khan (@Salma_Pashteen) December 5, 2023

Anchor and Journalist Sanna Ejaz condemned the attack and arrest.

Strongly condemn the attack and arrest on PTM leader @ManzoorPashteen in Chaman, it is the obvious reason to malign the genuine cause of the Pakhtun crossing (freedom of movement as per UN Human Rights charter) across the Durand Line boundary.#ReleaseManzoorPashteen pic.twitter.com/wYPr2NzKZu

— Sanna Ejaz(سیاله) (@sanaejaz2) December 4, 2023