Nation on the edge. Pakistan in the brink of a major civil war in the country. Multiple groups and factions are eyeing to get their generous share once Pakistan is broken down into multiple countries.
One of the rebel faction is the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement or the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM). PTM is a social movement for Pashtun human rights-based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Formerly called the Mahsud Tahafuz (or Protection) Movement, it was founded in May 2014 by eight students at Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan as an initiative for removing landmines from Waziristan and other parts of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, affected by the war in North-West Pakistan.
While commenting on the ongoing Civil War and Freedom movements in Pakistan, the leader Manzoor Pashtun has claimed Pakistan Army atrocity towards the Pashtuns.
“Pashtun Tahafuz Movement itself is a victim of Pakistan Army terrorism. Our martyr Sardar Arif Wazir Arman Loni was martyred in a gruesome way by Pakistan Army. There is no peaceful resistance movement like PTM in the present history of Pakistan. The statement of Maulana Fazlur Rehman is nothing but an accusation and it can only be regretted.” Pashtun Leader Manzoor Pashtun said in a recent interview on Pakistan television. The Pushtun Rebel leader Manzoor Pashtun was reacting to the controversial statement of another Rebel religious leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the PTM freedom movement which has gained massive support from millions within Pakistan.
The statement of Jamiat Ulema e Islam (JUI) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in which he termed the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) as a nationalist “terrorist organisation” has sparked a heated controversy on social media.
The heated debate on the social media platforms started when Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his media talk later on Sunday said that if nationalist, extremist and terrorist organisations like PTM can run their campaigns in the country then why there was no space for religious parties of Pakistan.
Meanwhile, many of the social media users hailed the statement of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and endorsed the stance of Maulana regarding the PTM. However, a huge number of the social media users who apparently seemed to the supporters of PTM criticised Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his statement. While reacting to the statement of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Member National Assembly (MNA) and one of the founding members of PTM tweeted, “this shamelessness is beyond words. PTM didn’t resort to violence.” Maulana should explain why Taliban flags fly high in his salsas, he said.
He hates PTM because they will not allow him to sell Pashtun blood again, he added.
The Pakistan People’ Party (PPP) senior leader Farhatullah Babar while reacting to the Maulana’s statement tweeted, “Maulana Saab’s statement is so sad. Was it a slip of tongue or there’s something more to it? Hope he revisits his statement. PTM has a track record of being against terrorism, militancy.”
Meanwhile, some other social media users supported Maulana Fazlur Rehman and termed his statement a correct one as according to them PTM was a terrorist and extremist group provoking people against Pakistan and Pakistan Army who had been fighting against the terrorist organisations across the country.
All in all a perfect storm is brewing in Pakistan. The nation is on the brink of numerous civil wars.
