Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, a 26-year-old youngster, is leading country’s biggest movement demanding equal rights for his community and all the oppressed people of the state. He became a popular figure in no time, garnering a massive following. The fact can be cross-checked from the numbers in his rallies and the video views of his addresses, which amount to thousands.
On the other hand, we have people like Ali Muhammad Khan and Shehryar Khan Afridi, the sitting parliamentarians of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. If we take off the badge of PTI from their chests, then they are almost invisible in the political landscape. Their only identification is Imran Khan and his party.
To top it all, these pygmies remain busy in burnishing their nationalistic spirit on one forum or the other and concentrate least on the wellbeing of the community they represent in the upper echelons of power. They are reluctant to address their genuine concerns and make retreat whenever a moment of their people’s defence comes to the fore.
Ali Muhammad Khan and Shehryar Khan Afridi should have played a reconciliatory role as they are representatives of the Pakhtuns. However, they remain insensitive to the sufferings of their own people
Conversely, Manzoor Pashteen has established his credentials through his innate leadership skills. He sprouted to the national scene through downright stance against atrocious policies of the state. Now he’s regarded as Messiah by the oppressed section of the very community which these ersatz representatives represent on national forums — because the release of a single missing person outweighs the lifelong feigned struggle of these political pygmies. For the happiness which the return of a missing person brings to his family is matchless.
In the same manner, if we talk of Manzoor’s patriotic testimonials, which these so-called representatives often discuss, then history is witness to the sacrifices rendered by the people of the tribal region. For knowing this, one has to rummage through the historical events about selfless sacrifices of tribals for this country. Since the inception of the land of pure till date, the tribesmen have time and again proved their loyalty to the state of Pakistan. They bore unabated agonies but never thought of changing their loyalty.
Above all this, Ali Muhammad Khan and Shehryar Khan Afridi should have played the role of reconcilers being representatives of Pakhtuns. Instead of pacifying the circumstances, these counterfeit advocates of people remain insensitive to the sufferings of their fellow Pakhtuns. Such indifferent attitude depicts their penchant for playing the role of devil’s advocate.
In short, Manzoor Pashteen has carved a niche for himself through his valorous stance against the state for the well-being of tyrannised people of Pakistan. This gifts him the image of a true leader.
The politicians’ careers hinge on their party heads, as they can’t even move slightly without dictations. Moreover, their wrong understanding of country’s political milieu makes them more prone to misunderstand Manzoor’s struggle.
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, May 8th 2018.