Ali Wazir, Pashtun Leader, Arrested in Islamabad Amid Crackdown
Ali Wazir, a senior leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was arrested by the Islamabad police on Friday. He was detained outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. This arrest is part of a severe crackdown on PTM members following the death of senior leader and activist Gilaman Wazir.
In a post on X, PTM stated, “Ali Wazir, the strong voice of human rights and Pashtuns, is kidnapped and arrested in Islamabad without any reason. While the killers of Pashtuns have been protected by Islamabad, the clear proof of which is the free movement of the killers of Gilaman Pashtun.”
The US chapter of PTM also condemned the arrest, calling it a “vile and unconscionable act.” They reported that the police stopped video recording and snatched the phone from Wazir’s friend while he was explaining the reason for his arrest.
Wazir was reportedly arrested after bringing an individual to the PIMS hospital following a minor accident involving his car. In a viral video, Wazir can be seen saying, “Now they are forcibly arresting me without any reason. Yes, there was a small accident and I had brought this kid to the hospital and now he is fine. But even then they arrest me, which is not right.” A policeman can be seen allegedly snatching the phone of Wazir’s companion at the end of the video.
Ali Wazir, who leads the PTM, is known for his non-violent movement in Pakistan. He has faced numerous legal battles, with many cases filed against him allegedly to tarnish his image. Despite being acquitted by courts, legal proceedings against him continue, showing the malafide intent of the Pakistani state, as mentioned by the International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS).
Wazir was elected to the National Assembly in the 2018 general election and was imprisoned in 2019 on sedition charges related to a controversial speech at a Karachi rally. He has been consistently targeted for his criticism of the Pakistani Army and the human rights abuses faced by the Pashtun ethnic minority in Waziristan and neighboring areas.
Doubts Revealed
Ali Wazir -: Ali Wazir is a leader from Pakistan who speaks up for the rights of the Pashtun people.
Pashtun -: Pashtuns are a group of people who live mainly in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They have their own language and culture.
Islamabad -: Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan, like how New Delhi is the capital of India.
Crackdown -: A crackdown is when the police or government take strong action to stop people from doing something, often by arresting them.
Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) -: PTM is a group that fights for the rights and protection of Pashtun people in Pakistan.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences -: This is a big hospital in Islamabad where people go to get medical treatment.
Activist -: An activist is someone who works hard to bring about social or political change.
Gilaman Wazir -: Gilaman Wazir was a person who worked to help the Pashtun people and was part of PTM.
US chapter -: A chapter is a local group of a larger organization. The US chapter of PTM is the part of PTM that is in the United States.
Unjust -: Unjust means something that is not fair or right.
Pakistani Army -: The Pakistani Army is the military force of Pakistan, like the Indian Army is for India.
Human rights abuses -: Human rights abuses are when people are treated very badly and unfairly, like being hurt or not allowed to speak freely.
Sedition charges -: Sedition charges are serious accusations that someone is trying to get people to go against the government.
