Author: Tazmeen Javed
In an apparent disregard for the sanctity of human life, the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) did what the enemy might think 1,000 times before making fun of the deceased who passed away in fighting the Covid-19 while serving his duty.
Maj. Muhammad Asghar was deployed at the Torkham Border – one of the two key crossings with neighboring Afghanistan – to manage screening of the people, and movement of logistic convoys to the war-torn country.
“Major Muhammad Asghar laid his life in the line of duty at Torkham Border in the fight against COVID-19.
He was managing the Torkham Border to ensure screening of people and move of logistic convoys to Afghanistan, “the military media wing stated as condolences poured in from various quarters of society.
However, the PTM remained indifferent.
PTM’s anti-state narrative is not something surprising. Following the unjust killing of the social media model Naqeebullah Mehsud, the PTM leadership headed by Manzoor Pashteen exploited the genuine grievances of the Pashtun community, especially the displaced people who once fought the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and were forced to leave out their houses and settled far away from their homes.
The erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) which later was merged into the KP Province after the Parliament passed historic 25th constitutional amendment in a hope to address the concerns of the people of tribal areas. Whereas the PTM remained in confrontational mode against the state and its institutions and never reciprocated to the appeasement policy adopted by the latter in a bid to mitigate the concerns and allow the people of tribal areas to be “mainstreamed”.
From the flag burning to the hate speech against the armed forces, the PTM has stooped to a new low where its activists have become so blind that the loss of human life for them does not carry any importance.
It is as the PTM has decided that following the cross-border violation from Iran, Afghanistan, and India, it will surge its rant and rage against the State. It has tended to forget that the Pashtuns of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and all their designs in provoking the sentiments of Pashtun community on the behest of NDS and RA&W would foil.
With the passage of days, the PTM’s sinister agenda is getting exposed. Pakistan had recently facilitated the talks between the Afghan Taliban and the US forces bringing the warring parties to come on common terms after nineteen years of conflict and the loss of precious human lives. The World has credited Pakistan for its tremendous efforts for peace and harmony in the region.
Therefore, the PTM must realize that it is losing the indigenous and foreign support and has become a non-existent entity once for all.
Last but not the least, they must be thankful for the state institutions for giving them freehand and not being dealt with iron hands. Lest they forget that it will take a blink of an eye for them hear once again: “Time is up.”