Loni’s death anniversary observed

PESHAWAR: Like other parts of the country, the first death anniversary of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Arman Loni was observed here on Sunday.

The activists of PTM gathered at the Phase-III Chowk in Hayatabad. Member National Assembly Mohsin Dawar and member KP Assembly Mir Kalam Wazir were among other PTM leaders who spoke to the protesters.

The protesters were holding banners with the pictures of Manzoor Pashteen, who is under arrest, and Arman Loni. Arman Loni had died during the police crackdown against protesters in Loralai district in Balochistan on February 2 last year. Muhammad Ibrahim Lonri, known as Arman Loni, was a college lecturer and poet. He was part of the PTM central leadership since the movement emerged on the national scene. The protesters criticised the mainstream media for ignoring their protest and arrests of the protesters across the country. Earlier, lawmaker Mohsin Dawar announced public gatherings in Loralai and Karachi on 9th February, in Dera Ismail Khan on February 16 and Charsadda on March 1 to protest against the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen. He said the rallies were announced by the PTM steering committee meeting. Manzoor Pashteen was arrested on January 27 for allegedly rejecting the country’s Constitution at a public meeting in Dera Ismail Khan. He was sent on judicial remand to Dera Ismail Khan Central Prison. Addressing the protesters in Peshawar, Mohsin Dawar criticised a federal minister for ridiculing the protesters from North Waziristan. Mohsin Dawar said that Attan (traditional dance) was part of their protest and nobody has the right to ridicule it. The PTM activists claimed that more of their fellows were arrested during the ongoing crackdown against the movement. They said that Alamzeb Mehsud was picked from his home at midnight in Dera Ismail Khan. They also claimed that police arrested some of their activists in Karachi and Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday. Mir Kalam Wazir condemned the use of force against peaceful protesters in Dera Ismail Khan and Karachi. He asked the government to release the arrested activists forthwith.

Meanwhile, Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan also expressed concern over the lack of progress in the investigation regarding the death of Arman Loni. In a statement issued from ANP’s head office at Bacha Khan Markaz, he said if the situation remained unchanged, the Pashtun youth could become violent and moderate forces would not be able to control the situation.