Punjab government withdraws controversial ad featuring Manzoor Pashteen

LAHORE - The Punjab government has taken off a paid advertisement, which depicted Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen as a symbol of sectarian violence, following backlash from social media users.

The 29-second ad, which was aired yesterday on television with regard to the holy month of Muharram, shows Pashteen while warning people to avoid sectarian violence.

Shocked to see this ad from Punjab govt. Is a Pashtun in Punjab to be considered a terrorist even if he is a victim of terrorism & preaching non violence? This is racial profiling. PTI should resist being used like this. If its a compulsion, then come up with something plausible. pic.twitter.com/JpFQVTr2yK

— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) September 15, 2018

Pakistanis were outraged when Mohsin Dawar, a Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader and Member National Assembly (MNA) since August 2018, shared the video on his Twitter handle.

Its an indirect attack over all Pashtoon and we strongly condemn it

It is requested to the PM @ImranKhanPTI to take serious notice of this Adver and stop profiling of Pashtoon

— kochai lewanai (@KLewanai) September 15, 2018

Many of them consider this to be racial profiling against certain groups of people in Pakistan.

PTI’s new government is paying for advertisements showing pictures of elected MNAs from North and South Waziristan and a leader of the largest non violent movement in Pakistan as enemies, terrorists and anti state. They can’t go more shallow thn this against #Pashtuns #PTM #Shame pic.twitter.com/2FZA7UnWLD

— purani meena (@PuraniMeena) September 15, 2018

Afrasiab Khattak of Awami National Party (ANP) criticsed the act, asking the government to ‘formally & publicly apologise for running a home department TVC showing PTM leaders as terrorists’.

Reham Khan, the former wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan, also took a jibe at the government for ‘this blatant use of government money by PTI in Punjab for racial profiling of Pushtuns & defaming human rights activists who are law abiding citizens.’

It is an uphill battle but we must persevere against all odds yo ensure equality & freedom for all. https://t.co/fsCsACI6yB

— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) September 16, 2018

Admitting the mistake, the federal government took down the ad. The Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ch Fawad Hussain said “this advertisement was immediately taken off as soon it was brought to our attention, it was aired hardly a few times before channels were directed not to air such advertisement”.

This advertisement was immediately taken off as soon it was brought to our attn, it was aired hardly a few times before channels were directed not to air such advertisement. I urge people not to circulate this rejected version https://t.co/6wFtgbCsOl

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 15, 2018

He also urged the people “not to circulate this rejected version.”

However, many demanded an action against the person who conceived this controversial advertisement.

Withdrawing a premeditated smearing, hateful ad isn’t enough Sir ji; who conceived it and why? And what action has been taken about them https://t.co/CZ068cfJSQ

— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) September 15, 2018

On Friday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police had issued arrest warrants for Manzoor Pashteen, MNA Ali Wazir and six others.

A letter issued by a senior police official in Swabi and sent to political agents of North and South Waziristan declared Pashteen, Wazir, Dr Said Alam Masood, Fazal Advocate, Khan Zaman, Mohsin Dawood, Samad Khan and Noorul Salam proclaimed offenders and sought their arrest in connection with a case registered against them on August 28.

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

According to the first information report (FIR), PTM workers held a gathering at cricket stadium in Swabi’s Shah Mansoor Town without required no-objection certificate from authorities concerned. At the stadium, the FIR adds, 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.

Manzoor Pashteen leads the group, which has been accused of inciting hatred and racial violence amongst the different ethnicities in Pakistan.

During their Peshawar rally, Pashteen, the 26-year-old veterinarian-turned-rights activist, used provocative language and racial slurs, forgetting that civil society groups from Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan supported his narrative and also participated in Islamabad’s sit-in.

A Jirga, formed by the KP Apex Committee and comprising tribal elders, is holding negotiations with the group to resolve their issues.