The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to once again engage with Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in dialogue, it is learnt.
PTI sources told Business Recorder that National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak have been tasked by Prime Minister Imran Khan to reach out to two members of the National Assembly - Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar - from South and North Waziristan, respectively who represent the PTM in the parliament.
PTM, which was founded in May 2014, is an ethnic Pashtun social movement demanding rights of Pashtuns, particularly in the formerly militancy-hit tribal districts but has generated considerable concern over its confrontational stance against state institutions.
When contacted, MNA Ali Wazir confirmed the latest government's effort to hold a meeting with the PTM leadership, adding that "I was told that Speaker Asad Qaiser and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak wanted to meet us, but I refused to meet the government representatives unless they apologize for what they had been saying against the PTM inside and outside parliament."
He further alleged that there was lack of seriousness on the part of the government, adding that 'injustices' are continuing unabated. "On the one hand the government ministers and state machinery are engaged in negative propaganda against the PTM and on other they want to talk with us," he said, adding that no talks will be held unless they can feel that the government side is 'serious'.
"We cannot hold talks under an environment of intimidation, continued arrests, denial of legitimate and constitutional rights, and we require an apology for what they have been negatively portraying us to the country," the MNA added.
The latest development comes after Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Mualana Fazur Rehman, together with mainstream opposition parties, decided to launch a 'march' to the federal capital on October 31, 2019 seeking the Prime Minister's resignation. Ali Wazir, however, clarified that PTM does not intend to join the JUI-F led anti-government protest movement.
Earlier in April, the Senate constituted a special committee with Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif as its convener and Senators Dr Jahanzaib Jamaldini, Sitara Ayaz, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Sajjad Hussain Turi, Hidayatullah, Dilawar Khan, Fida Mohammad, Naseebullah Bazai, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Sameena Saeed, Khanzada Khan, Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi, Pir Sabir Shah, and Mushahidullah Khan as its members.
The committee held a few sessions with the PTM leadership including its founding leader Manzoor Pashteen but there was no progress in resolving the grievances of the PTM.
Both Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were arrested following the unfortunate Kharqamar check-post incident in Boyya, North Waziristan, in which five Pakistan army soldiers were among 10 injured when the PTM workers clashed with the security forces. The two MNAs are currently on bail and facing cases against them.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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