ISLAMABAD – The Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government has imposed a ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), led by Manzoor Pashteen, citing concerns over national peace and security. The ban was implemented under Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, placing PTM on the First Schedule as a proscribed organization.
According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Interior, the federal government has “reasons to believe that the PTM is engaged in activities prejudicial to the peace and security of the country.” The move comes at a time when Pakistan is grappling with political unrest and a resurgence in terrorist activities, including recent attacks in the tribal areas.
This development follows the martyrdom of a Pakistan Army lieutenant colonel, alongside six soldiers, in a clash with terrorists in North Waziristan’s Spinwam area just a day earlier. Terror incidents have seen a sharp rise, with the fatalities in 2024 already surpassing those in 2023, according to data from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
The PTM has long had a contentious relationship with the state. Its leaders, including Manzoor Pashteen and Ali Wazir, have faced multiple legal challenges and accusations of delivering inflammatory speeches against state institutions. Ali Wazir, a former MNA from South Waziristan, has spent significant time in custody on various terrorism charges, including hate speech. His detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law was recently extended by 15 days, as he remains imprisoned in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
The PTM’s opposition to state actions in the tribal areas has drawn sharp criticism from authorities, including the military. In 2019, the party was at the center of a violent clash between PTM protesters and security forces at a checkpoint in North Waziristan, resulting in the deaths of three civilians and injuries to several soldiers. The then-Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asif Ghafoor, had warned against the PTM’s controversial rhetoric.
Manzoor Pashteen himself has been arrested on several occasions, with the most recent case being in December 2022, following a speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference. The speech criticized the military, accusing it of targeting independent voices. Charges filed against him included provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The government’s decision to ban the PTM is expected to further inflame tensions, as the party has a strong following, particularly in the tribal regions. The ban has raised questions about the balance between national security and political freedoms, with PTM’s supporters vowing to challenge the decision in court.
