ISLAMABAD – Entire leadership of Afghanistan including NDS stand forarrested Pakistani PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen.
The arrest of the leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), ManzoorPashteen, by Pakistani forces, has sparked anger among Afghan politicianswho call it unjust and an act against freedom of speech.
His arrest comes almost two weeks after a large public gathering by thegroup in the city of Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during which movementmembers said their agenda was to “internationalize” a call for justice,TOLO News reported.
The first reaction came from President Ashraf Ghani on Monday evening whosaid he was “troubled” by the arrest of the PTM chief.
Ghani called for “immediate release” of Pashteen and said that “while ourregion is suffering from atrocities caused by violent extremism andterrorism, governments in the region must support and encourage peacefulcivilian movements for justice and must avoid any means of force andviolence against these movements.”
He also said that differences with such peaceful movements must be resolvedthrough dialogue and engagement.
Former president Hamid Karzai said in a tweet on Monday that he isconcerned about the arrest and said such acts could deepen the crisis inthe region, which, according to him, is suffering from extremism andviolence.
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He also called for the “immediate” release of the activist.
Former NDS chief and presidential candidate Rahmatullah Nabil calledPashteen’s arrest an “extra-judicial act” by Pakistan’s army andintelligence agency that “will force Pashtun leaders across the Durand Lineto unite and establish a new country.”
Presidential candidate and former national security advisor Mohammad HaneefAtmar also criticized the move and said it is an act that contradicts thenon-violent campaign by Manzoor Pashteen, his colleagues and thousands ofothers.
President Ghani’s running mate, Amrullah Saleh, tweeted: “We extend ourmoral support to the PTM and its non-violent way of struggle and call forhis immediate release.”
