MIRANSHAH: The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) held an impressive political rally in Miranshah where tens of thousands of supporters gathered to hear speeches by Manzoor Pashteen, National Assembly members Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir, as well as former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar, former ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Senator Usman Kakar.
PTM leaders had reached Miranshah in a huge caravan of vehicles from to attend the rally, carrying white and black flags.
There has been an unannounced ban on showing PTM meetings and press conferences in the Pakistani media.
On Sunday, Pakistani TV channels dominated the voting in Gilgit-Baltistan, but the Miranshah rally was completely blacked out.
Commenting on the situation Manzoor Pashtun said, “Those who say that PTM is over, if they come here today, they will see PTM everywhere.”
In his address, MNA Mohsin Dawar said that this grand rally was a public referendum in which people were demanding justice for the victims of terrorism. “Our people are not ready to be used in any future state sport,” he said.
Mohsin Dawar expressed gratitude to the people of Miranshah for coming out in record number for the PTM rally.
“A heartfelt thanks to the people of my hometown for coming out in such large numbers. This was a referendum that demanded justice for all past incidents of state terrorism & announced a refusal to be used as cannon fodder in State’s future war projects #PashtunLongMarch2MiranShah,” Dawar Tweeted.
The participants called for an end to enforced disappearances, killings and abuses of civilians, as well as for the military to abide by the constitution and the law.
The military and many other quarters in Pakistan have accused the PTM of having the support of Afghanistan and India and of being involved in anti-national activities.
The PTM denies the allegations as government propaganda. The organization says it believes in the peaceful struggle for civil rights enshrined in the Pakistani constitution. The group’s leaders say those issuing treason certificates should reconsider their “anti-people policies.”
