Today, Wednesday, October 9, in the Reghi Lamma area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an incident involving police violence was reported, injuring several members of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM). Eyewitness accounts, as cited by Radio Mashaal, the Pakistan service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, indicate that five PTM members were injured during the police shooting.
In response to escalating tensions, the tribal council of the PTM is set to convene in the Khyber district on Friday. The purpose of the Loya Jirga is to protest against illegal arrests, enforced disappearances of Pashtuns, and other pressing issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Social media videos depict clashes between protesters and police, with audible gunfire in the background.
Despite the Pakistani government’s opposition, which declared the PTM an illegal organization last Sunday, the PTM has affirmed its commitment to holding the jirga.
This recent shooting incident and the government’s ban on the PTM reflect the growing conflict between the Pakistani state and the Pashtun movement, heightening regional tensions and raising serious concerns about human rights and the right to assembly. Without a resolution, the situation risks further violence and instability, necessitating urgent attention from human rights organizations and international mediators to foster dialogue and prevent additional conflict.
