Dissent in the mountains

• The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) is a grassroots organization advocating for the rights of the Pashtun community, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and tribal areas.
• The PTM was banned by the Pakistani government on October 6 under anti-terror laws due to its involvement in activities that are “prejudicial to the peace and security of the country.”
• Amnesty International criticised the ban, calling it an “affront on the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly in the country.”
• The PTM was established in 2014 to remove landmines from northern Pakistan, home to Pashtuns and other local tribals.
• The PTM is mostly active in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region near the Afghanistan border, which has been a hotbed of militant activities since the days of ‘Afghan jihad’ in the late 1970s.
• The PTM is led by Manzoor Pashteen from Waziristan, who has helped spread the movement across Pakistan and opened branches in other countries.
• The PTM gained massive support from its rallies over the years, which were attended by thousands who believe violence has destroyed Pashtun areas in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The latest ban on the PTM was placed ahead of the Pashtun National Jirga (court), an unofficial gathering aimed at upholding the principles of justice, equality, and democratic governance within the Pashtun community