KARACHI: Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen was arrested in Chaman on Monday after disputed claims of firing by the group and local police, Dawn.com reported.

According to Chaman Deputy Commissioner Raja Athar Abbas, the PTM chief was arrested after gunshots were fired at police from his vehicle.

The statement came nearly four hours after PTM alleged that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) fired upon Mr Pashteen’s vehicle when he was on his way from Chaman to Turbat.

Speaking to Dawn.com, DC Abbas said Levies and police personnel arrested the PTM leader from the Gudhamo area.

“Today, police were fired at from Mr Pashteen’s car on Mall Road,” the official said, adding that a case had also been registered against him.

He said the arrest was in connection with the firing as well as a ban on the PTM chief’s entry into Balochistan.

Mr Pashteen would be presented before a district magistrate later, the official added.

On Sunday, Mr Pahsteen announced to join the protest against the alleged extra judicial killing of Balaach Balaach Mola Bakh­­sh in Turbat.

The protest has been going on for more than a week after CTD claimed to have killed Mr Bakhsh, along with three other men, in an alleged encounter on November 24.

However, PTM claimed Mr Pashteen was travelling in a caravan when “police and army carried out straight firing on his vehicle” in Chaman.

Earlier on Monday, Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai called PTM “an anti-Pakistan organisation”.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2023