ALTAF DEEPLY CONCERNED ON PASHTUN CASUALTIES, OPPRESSION

- KP CM MUST PULL OUT HIM FROM REIGN OF TERROR ON CIVILIANS

- PASHTUNS MUST FOLLOW THE FOOTSETPS OF THEIR ANCESTORS WHO BRAVELY FOUGHT AGAINST THE OPPRESSORS AND INVADERS

- MQM SUPREMO FULLY SUPPORTS PASTHUN CAUSE FOR PEACE AND TRANQUILITY IN KP AND TRIBAL BELT

LONDON. [UK]. October 10: MQM supremo Altaf Hussain who has always been very vocal on domestic issues particularly tyranny and oppression, said that a tense standoff unfolded in Peshawar today as a jirga, convened at the Chief Minister's House under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, sought to prevent a Pashtun tribal jirga organised by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). He said that the PTM's national jirga, planned for October 11, has faced stiff resistance from the provincial and federal governments, raising concerns of further unrest in the region.

Over the past several days, police and security forces reportedly dismantled and set fire to tents set up in Khyber Agency as part of the Pashtun Grand National Peace Jirga, organised by the PTM. Several arrests have also been made. The PTM, a political movement advocating for Pashtun rights, has faced increasing opposition from the authorities, with the federal government banning the group on the grounds of alleged threats to national security, Hussain showed his deep concerns.

Despite appeals to the provincial leadership, Gandapur has stated that his hands are tied by federal directives, he said.

"It is the federal government's policy," he said, explaining that he could not intervene in the matter. The ban on the PTM was officially issued by the Ministry of Interior, which cited concerns about peace and security, with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterating that the PTM’s planned jirga would not be permitted under any circumstances.

He further accused the PTM of receiving foreign funding and acting against the state, claims that the PTM has vehemently denied.

These allegations bear resemblance to charges previously leveled against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) during its confrontation with the military establishment, a tactic some political analysts suggest may be part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent. MQM founder Altaf Hussain, in a recent address on TIKTOK, urged young Pakistanis to study the establishment's "three-pronged strategy" outlined in his book, which he claims is being used to stifle movements like the PTM.

Hussain questioned the basis of the ban on the PTM, asking, "Since its inception, when has PTM carried out a suicide bombing, attacked military installations, or engaged in terrorism?"

He pointed out that PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen has consistently called for a peaceful struggle and adherence to Pakistan's constitution, making the government's actions against the movement all the more puzzling. "So why has a ban been imposed on PTM?" Hussain asked.

Tensions reached a boiling point yesterday following a press conference by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, after which security forces reportedly opened fire on Pashtun civilians who had gathered for the jirga, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to dozens more, he pointed out, adding that alongside the security forces, provincial Police, operating under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, were also implicated in the violence.

In a controversial move, Gandapur held a meeting today at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar with leaders from various political parties, including the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP), and Jamaat-e Islami. The federal interior minister, Naqvi, who had earlier ordered the use of force to stop the PTM’s jirga, was also present at the gathering, which was labeled a "peace jirga" by the government, Hussain stunningly cited it.

Hussain was of the strong view that this meeting has sparked outrage among PTM supporters and sympathisers, with many questioning whether the provincial government, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), is complicit in actions against the PTM.

Hussain called on PTI leaders and workers to reflect on whether Gandapur’s actions align with the vision of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, the party’s leader, who has recently been imprisoned.

"Has Gandapur allied with those who imprisoned Khan and subjected PTI leaders, workers, elders, and women to state violence, and who are now killing Pashtuns?" he asked.

Hussain’s address was aimed not only at PTM workers but also at the wider Pashtun community.

He invoked the legacy of their ancestors who resisted foreign imperial powers, asking,

"Will you now surrender to the agents of the British on your own land?"

He appealed to Pashtuns not to let their nation "become the slaves of tyrants."

As the October 11 deadline for the PTM’s Pashtun national jirga approaches, the situation remains precarious. Hussain issued a stern warning to both the federal and provincial governments, urging them to cease their oppressive tactics and allow the jirga to proceed peacefully.

"If they do not stop using force, they will be signing the warrant for the complete destruction of the country," he said, calling for wisdom and restraint from all parties involved.

This unfolding crisis has brought attention to the ongoing struggles between Pakistan's political establishment and movements like the PTM, which continue to fight for recognition and rights within the country, he asserted and added that the events of the next few days could shape the future of this already volatile region.