Thousands of Pashtuns defied authorities and held a mass rally in the Lahore on Sunday, chanting slogans just hours after security forces cracked down on their leaders. Both the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are dominated by Pashtuns, leading to repeated military operations in the region. But PTM's leadership say Pashtun civilians have born the brunt of the army's long fight against militants and are calling for an end to what they say are rampant extrajudicial killings and "disappearances".
PTM's leader Manzoor Pashteen on Sunday addressed supporters, lashing out at alleged abuses and "dirty tactics". "They are thieves and they have only one goal in life, that is to make as much money as they can," he said. An AFP reporter at the scene estimated about 5,000 people attended the rally - smaller than recent protests, but a significant showing considering Lahore lies far from the movement's base in northwest.
The crowd, which included non-Pashtun supporters, chanted various slogans. The rally was held hours after officials in Lahore detained several PTM leaders late Saturday following raids on Punjab University and a hotel. A local police officer confirmed the raids but said the activists have since been released. The crackdown sparked anger on social media with the hashtags Release PTMWorkers and ShameOnPunjabPolice gaining traction. Human Rights Watch's Pakistan representative Saroop Ijaz called the incident "worrying".
"It's an attack on the right to assembly and free expression," said Ijaz. PTM supporters from across the country had flocked to Lahore in recent days ahead of the rally. Following the raids, PTM leader Pashteen - who was not detained - vowed to continue with the demonstration. "We won't stay silent. We will hold the rally at any cost," said Pashteen in a message posted early Sunday. The PTM came to prominence in February after the killing of a young social media star in Karachi unleashed festering anger at authorities over alleged targeting of Pashtuns.
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