Defiant Pashtuns hold Karachi rally
ISLAMABAD: Thousands of defiant Pashtuns attended a rally in Karachi and waited late into Sunday night to listen to their leader who had to drive 40 hours due to attempts by the Pakistani government to thwart his travel.
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Ahmed, aka Manzoor Pashteen, reached the venue at Sohrab Goth on the outskirts of the city after being detained twice on his way, at Bahawalpur and then at Hyderabad. “I drove for 40 hours to get here but I can travel for 40 years to put an end to the atrocities that are being committed,” he told the gathering.
The time of the Pushtuns has come, he said, adding they would demand justice for all that they had suffered over the past decade.
Pashteen lamented the lack of reportage on his movement by what he called Pakistan’s “occupied media.”
He said his movement was not restricted to Pashtuns only, but was echoing injustices committed towards all Pakistanis.
Pashteen said he would continue to press for the demands of the PTM, “come what may.”
He said the state had tried to disrupt his visit to Karachi in whatever way possible.
After disallowing him a flight, the police at various points detained him and used abusive language against him.
“The Pakistani constitution does not allow anybody to abduct people,” he told the roaring crowd, which had started gathering at the venue since the evening. Other PTM leaders, including Ali Wazeer and Mohsin Dawar, were also present at the venue. Pakistani authorities had cut off power but the crowd used their cell phones to light u p the venue.