This past Sunday, Lahore lent its ears to Manzoor Pashteen as massive crowds shed tears when he offered to sacrifice his own life in return for the state ending its policy of profiling Pakhtuns. The rally turned out to be a lot larger than was expected, as a myriad of administrative hurdles were created to prevent it from taking place. The support of small democratic parties and other associations was laudable in this regard. It would not have been possible for the Pakhtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) to attract a sizeable crowd without their help, because the Lahore administration was reluctant about letting the rally be held till the last minute.
The PTM has been able to garner support through the power of Pashteen’s belief. While the rally in Peshawar was much larger than the rally in Lahore, the PTM was still able to deliver its message to the heart of Punjab.
What is more, Lahorites were able to witness the criminality of the state firsthand, when law enforcement agencies began arresting PTM members and pouring sewage on the ground to discourage participation. Furthermore, the lack of support the PTM has received from mainstream political parties has exposed them for what they are. It is for the people to decide now if these parties peddle truth or lies; or if they exist to serve the people or to achieve their own vested interests.
Lahorites were able to witness the criminality of the state first hand, when law enforcement agencies began arresting PTM members and pouring sewage on the ground to discourage participation
The only politician who stood out was Maryam Nawaz Sharif. She took notice of the arrest of PTM members by law enforcement and got them released within an hour. Apart from this, she also Tweeted that Pakistan belongs to the Pakhtuns as much as it does to Punjabis. This Tweet won the hearts of thousands of Pakhtuns, and was a brave statement by a prominent member of the PML-N, Punjab’s most dominant political party.
Similarly, support of Pakhtun nationalists like Afrasiab Khattak, Bushra Gohar and Iftikhar Hussain is also praiseworthy. Furthermore, renowned social activists and journalists also came to the PTM’s aid and touched upon the right to free speech and expression in the Constitution. These people have acted as patriotic and true Pakistanis, and have shown that there are people in this country who are always prepared to stand for truth.
In conclusion, PTM’s Lahore rally was a true spectacle to observe. All participants unequivocally gave their verdict against state oppression and its worn out policies which have taken us to the verge of annihilation. The PTM needs to be recognised as a grassroots movement, and its demands should be accepted by the state. If this does not happen, the conflicts that presently exist in our country could be further exacerbated.
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, April 25th 2018.