PESHAWAR: The Pakhtunkhwa Olasi Tehreek has announced to extend full support to Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement to make its planned rally in Peshawar a success.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, Pakhtunkhwa Olasi Tehreek president Ajmal Khan said that his organisation always raised voice for the rights of Pakhtuns.

He said that they backed political parties and movements of workers in that regard.

He said that they would continue to support any organisation, which took steps in the best interest of Pakhtuns. He said that his organisation extended full support to PTM.

Mr Khan said that PTM was formed in reaction to the stepmother treatment with Pakhtuns by the government during the last several decades.

He said that Pakhtuns of all the provinces were ignored by the government but those living in Fata were like refugees in their own areas.

He said that tribal people were taken hostage in the name of terrorism. “Now extra-judicial murders in big cities have rendered them totally vulnerable,” he added.

Mr Khan said that PTM was not limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata only but its network was extended to the entire country. He said that PTM was raising voice for the rights of the downtrodden.

Flanked by Pakhtunkhwa Olasi Tehreek general secretary Majid Jan and other leaders, Mr Khan said that his organisation had been supporting PTM since its inception.

He said that they would participate in maximum number in the rally of PTM, scheduled for April 8 in Peshawar.

“We strongly support all legitimate and constitutional demands of PTM,” he said. He urged the district level organisations, all members and supporters of Olasi Tehreek to ensure their participation in the PTM’s rally in Peshawar.

Mr Khan also asked them to launch an organised campaign and conduct door-to-door visit to create awareness among people about the PTM’s rally and ensure participation of elderly people, senior citizens, youth, women and children in the rally in a large number.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2018