Ali Wazir’s Detention Extended by 15 Days in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, Pakistan – On Sunday, the detention of Ali Wazir, a former Member of the National Assembly and leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), was extended by 15 days. Wazir was arrested last month after an alleged road accident and is currently facing terrorism charges.
The local administration in Rawalpindi ordered the extension, meaning Wazir will now be released on October 4. He is currently imprisoned in Adiala jail. Previously, the district administration had ordered his detention from September 4 to 19.
Wazir was initially detained outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad after bringing someone to the hospital following a minor accident involving his car. His arrest is part of a broader crackdown on PTM members following the death of senior leader Gilaman Wazir.
Videos on social media suggest the accident was a pretext to detain 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.”
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 is seen allegedly snatching the phone of Wazir’s companion at the end of the video.
The US chapter of PTM condemned the arrest, calling it a “vile and unconscionable act.” They noted that the police stopped the video recording and snatched the phone from Wazir’s friend.
Ali Wazir, who leads the PTM, is known for his non-violent activism in Pakistan. He has faced numerous legal battles, often seen as attempts to tarnish his image. Despite multiple acquittals, new cases continue to be filed against him. Wazir has been a vocal critic 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 person who used to be a Member of the National Assembly in Pakistan. He is also a leader of a group called the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM).
Detention -: Detention means being kept in a place, like a jail, and not being allowed to leave. Ali Wazir is being kept in detention for 15 more days.
Rawalpindi -: Rawalpindi is a city in Pakistan. It is where Ali Wazir is being kept in detention.
National Assembly -: The National Assembly is a group of people who make laws in Pakistan. Ali Wazir used to be a member of this group.
Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) -: The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) is a group that works to protect the rights of Pashtun people in Pakistan. Ali Wazir is a leader of this group.
Terrorism charges -: Terrorism charges are serious accusations that someone has done something very bad, like causing fear or harm to people. Ali Wazir is facing these charges.
Crackdown -: A crackdown is when authorities take strong action to stop or control a group of people. In this case, it means the government is taking strong action against PTM members.
Pretext -: A pretext is a reason given to hide the real reason for doing something. People think the road accident was just an excuse to arrest Ali Wazir.
Non-violent activism -: Non-violent activism means trying to bring about change without using violence. Ali Wazir is known for this kind of work.
Legal battles -: Legal battles are fights in court. Ali Wazir has had many of these, which means he has been in trouble with the law many times.
