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For quite a while now, social media has been buzzing with the slogans of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement. The PTM, a Pashtun protection body, working for the security of the ethnicity and for governing laws in FATA, has caught a lot of attention.
For months, people had been looking forward to the strongest man in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI’s Imran Khan, to support the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement and its founder, Manzoor Pashteen, who has now become the face of the agitation.
Finally, the PTI Chieftain in an interview, showed support towards both Pashteen and PTM. He stated that all the demands set out by Pashteen and PTM were ‘genuine’ and that reforms were needed to sort the situation out in a civilized manner.
“I will meet army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discuss with him easing security check posts and removing landmines, besides the core issue of missing persons of the Federally Administered Tribal Area,” said Khan while addressing media at the PTI Fata Convention.
He reiterated the fact that ever since 9/11, Pakistan has suffered through terrorism, but it is the people of FATA who have bore the brunt. Pashteen’s demands include the cleaning of landmines from FATA, less scrutiny and security on check-posts set up after every 5 kilometers, and the return of their missing brothers.
The State in all its entirety, has accepted the PTM and allowed it to hold public gatherings. People of FATA have sacrificed in means of life, land and displacement. They have suffered the worst setback brought by terrorism in the country.
Many on the internet and social media have claimed that the young teacher from FATA, Manzoor Pashteen, is on an agenda and is funded by the non-state systems. However, others are of the opinion that Pashteen’s movement is civil and only calls for basic rights.
This is how social media reacted to Imran Khan’s support towards the PTM
Imran Khan is being injected as Trojan Horse in PTM movement
— pkpolitics (@pkpolitics) April 12, 2018
Thank u very much @ImranKhanPTI for endorsing the demands of #PTM.
Sure enough that these demands will be tabled and discussed with the lone stakeholder for a permanent salution.Requesting same support from other leaders too.
— Ikram Khan Salarzai (@ikramsalarzi) April 12, 2018
Thank you @ImranKhanPTI for supporting PTM demands. But before going to the Millitary Chief why not first advise your own local leaders and social media admins who are asking people not to attend PTM meetings and Jalsas.
Thanks#PashtunLongMarch2Peshawar— Shah Fahad (@shahfahad044) April 11, 2018
what the hell #PTM is ? Imran Khan Stood for the rights of each and every Pakistan from the day first.
— Imad Imranist Khan (@MADDiePTI) April 11, 2018
PTM demanding exactly the same thing and Raza is supporting it matlb bas Imran Khan ki mukhalafat krni hai.
— New Account (@Saji_Sajid01) April 11, 2018
but still you dont abuse your own country/watan. You continue the struggle and win . All pashtuns and pakistan will be with PTM if they control there tone.
— saritob saray (@saritobsaray) April 11, 2018
i am dead sure if @ImranKhanPTI today starts supporting #PTM all the desi libtards will be against #PTM
— Daffy (@MDanyalSaleem) April 11, 2018
Thankyou Imran Khan and Bilawal both for supporting to bring PTM people on table. And to those who were declaring them traitors without even giving them chance, fittey mun!
— SRG (@sarimrashid) April 11, 2018
