QUETTA: Police have registered two FIRs against Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asghar Achakzai and others for holding a public meeting here on Sunday without obtaining a no-objection certificate and violation of loudspeaker ordinance, coronavirus-related standard operating procedures and other laws.

The public meeting was organised by the PTM at Railway Hockey Ground despite a ban on the entry of Mr Pashteen and other leaders of the PTM into Balochistan.

Mr Pashteen delivered a speech at the public gathering.

The police have registered FIR No. 217/21 against Mr Pashteen at Civil Line police station. Referring to the Balochistan Public Order Ordinance, the FIR said that Mr Pashteen was barred from entering Balochistan. However, with the help of PTM provincial president Noor Bacha, he reached Railway Hockey Ground and delivered a provocative speech.

In another FIR — No. 216/21 — police have stated that Mr Pashteen, Mr Bacha, Majeed Kakar, Khushal Khan Kakar, Mullah Behram, Zubair Shah, Rasheed Nasir, Noorullah Tareen, Umar Khan and ANP leader Asghar Achakzai made provocative speeches at the public meeting.

The meeting was held without obtaining NOC in which coronavirus-related SOPs were violated. The speakers at the rally provoked the participants by making provocative speeches against the security agencies while some miscreants held Afghan flags in their hands, the FIR said.

The FIR invokes sections 121, 123A, 153A, 269, 270, 278 and 341 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2021