Naqvi vows strict action against facilitators of banned outfit

ISLAMABAD: Expressing deep concern over the upcoming three-day Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga organised by the recently proscribed Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned on Wednesday that anyone found involved in facilitating the banned organisation would be dealt with an iron fist.

“We will not allow a parallel judicial system [in the country] in any case,” he said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.

“On the one hand, they are referring to the gathering as a jirga and on the other hand, they are portraying it as a court,” the minister said, warning that the government will now allow a parallel judicial system at any cost.

He pointed out that the ban was imposed as the PTM was involved in promoting rhetoric against the state institutions and the government.

“No one has any objection to raising voice for rights but attempts to stoke hatred and ethnic division cannot be tolerated,” he warned.

Furthermore, the security czar said that he was aware that the leaders from a few major political parties had met PTM leaders and expressed solidarity on the issue of rights, but they clarified that talking about rights while advocating picking up weapons was not possible.

Naqvi assured that the federal government was also ready to sit down and hold talks about human rights.

Following the ban, the minister said, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan governments placed 54 and 34 PTM members in the fourth schedule, respectively.

He said if an organisation is declared a proscribed entity, its offices are sealed, bank accounts closed, arms licenses, passports, and identity cards are cancelled, along with media and travel restrictions.

The interior minister made it clear that facilitators and abettors of the banned organisations will also face the same restrictions as per the law.

PTM leader Ali Wazir from South Waziristan has been incarcerated since August 3 as he was booked in several cases, pertaining to delivering hate speeches against the state institutions. He was released multiple times only to be arrested again.

In December last year, PTM chief Pashteen was arrested after his security guards allegedly opened fire targeting the police.

Back in 2019, a petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking a ban on the party. The plea was filed a day after three people were killed and five soldiers injured in a clash between security forces and PTM protesters in North Waziristan.

The presser came days after the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government banned the Manzoor Pashteen-led PTM, citing risk to “peace and security”.

“The federal government having reasons to believe that the PTM is engaged in certain activities prejudicial to peace and security of the country [...] is pleased to list the PTM in the First Schedule as a proscribed organisation,” read the notification issued by the Ministry of Interior.

The ban has been placed under Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

Prior to the government’s move, the now-proscribed PTM had announced to hold a three-day Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga from October 11 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber district. Addressing the presser, Naqvi said the government has no objection to the holding of jirga, but “bringing thousands of people isn’t called a jirga”.