KP police issue arrest warrants for PTM's Manzoor Pashteen, Ali Wazir

PESHAWAR - Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Friday issued arrest warrants for Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen, Members National Assembly (MNA) Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, father of APS victim Fazal Advocate and five others

A letter issued by a senior police official in Swabi declared Pashteen, Wazir, Dr Said Alam Masood, Fazal Advocate, Khan Zaman, Mohsin Dawood (Dawar), Samad Khan and Noor ul Salam as proclaimed offenders.

While speaking to a local media outlet, Swabi Police said that the superintendent of police (SP) investigation wrote to the political agents of North and South Waziristan seeking the arrest of the PTM leaders.

The move comes in the wake of a gathering held for the recovery of missing persons by the movement on August 28. The PTM had conducted the event despite local administration barring them from doing so.

According to the FIR, PTM workers held a gathering at cricket stadium in Swabi’s Shah Mansoor Town without required NOC from authorities. In the jalsa, the PTM chief and others made contemptuous statements against state institutions.

The PTM, formerly Mehsud Tahaffuz Movement, gained momentum following the extra-judicial murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi. It sought capital punishment for the prime suspect in Naqeebullah murder case, former SSP Malir Rao Anwar, recovery of missing persons and removal of landmines in tribal areas.

A Jirga, formed by the K-P apex committee and comprising tribal elders, is holding negotiations with the group to resolve their issues.