Pakistan govt ‘pleased’ to ban Pashtun Tahafuz Movement

The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) has been banned by the Federal Government and declared as a  ‘proscribed organisation’.

According to a Notification issued by the Interior Ministry, citing section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 it stated that PTM is a threat to peace and security in the country, and the federal government is putting it in the first schedule.

The notification read: “Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) is engaged in certain activities which are prejudicial to the peace and security of the country.”

Human rights activist Manzoor Pashteen launched PTM to address the grievances of Pashtuns, who are the second largest group in Pakistan and mostly live in the northwestern part of the country.

In Baluchistan, Pashtun are also the next largest group after the Baluch people.