LEADERS and supporters of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement are once again on the roads, this time camping out in front of the Sindh Assembly building until their demands are met. Their primary demand is the release from detention of their leader and MNA Ali Wazir. Mr Wazir and other key figures of his movement had been booked for alleged anti-state speeches made at a rally in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth in December 2020. On Sunday, members of the PTM marched up to the Sindh Assembly and after a brief stand-off were allowed to stage the dharna. They argued that if the Jamaat-i-Islami — which recently held a month-long protest in front of the provincial assembly against the Sindh local government law — could be allowed to hold a demonstration at the location, there was no reason why they should be treated differently. Here lies the crux of the problem.

Since their rise to prominence in 2018 in defence of Pakhtun rights, the PTM has been in the bad books of the state. It has been treated as an anti-state entity with cases lodged against its leaders, including the one against Mr Wazir. While their choice of words at times has raised questions, the movement has remained largely peaceful. Yet the state has refused to yield, while on the other hand it has acquiesced before violent, extremist movements. This has fuelled resentment, for as a PTM leader pointed out on Sunday, if the state can negotiate with outfits known for their frequent use of violence to forward their claims — why is there no tolerance for the PTM’s demands? The state’s contradictory approach has also been questioned by the learned judges of the Supreme Court while hearing Mr Wazir’s bail petition. Instead of creating fresh crises, the government needs to grant Ali Wazir bail and drop frivolous charges against the lawmaker, while peaceful movements calling for basic rights must not be termed anti-national simply for disagreeing with the dominant narrative.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2022