Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen,29, is a Pashtun human rights activist against alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and other human rights abuses in Pakistan, particularly in the Pashtoon belt of the country.
He leads the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a social movement based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The government of Pakistan has recently banned PTM.
In May 2014, during his studies at the Gomal University, Pashteen founded the “Mahsud Tahafuz Movement” a social movement mainly focused on removing landmines from Waziristan.
Later the movement renamed to Pashtun Tahafuz Movement and it started a campaign against the war in tribal areas, blaming both Islamist militants and the Pakistani military for the destruction.
Greater Jirga on October 11
Following the killing of Gilaman Wazir, a young activist of banned PTM and famous Pashto poet, in Islamabad in July, Manzoor Pashtoon announced that a grand Pashtoon jirga will be held in Khyber agency and it will decide the future of Pashtoon in Pakistan.
The October 11 grand Jirga comes at a time when the Pashtun community is increasingly vocal about its rights, demanding justice and accountability for the alleged injustices they have faced since 1947.
The banned PTM seeks to address issues such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and the socio-economic marginalization of Pashtuns.
As per the banned PTM, the October 11 gathering is not just a political event; it is a critical juncture for the Pashtun community, a moment to galvanize support, and a chance to pave the way for future generations.
On the other hand, the government of Pakistan is alleging that PTM is involved in activities against the state and the movement is promoting an anti-state narration among the Pashtoon youths.
