Twitterati have started reacting to the Punjab government’s Muharram advertisement which allegedly depicts Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen as a symbol of sectarian violence.
The ad, being aired on television with regard to Muharram, shows Pashteen while warning people to avoid sectarian violence.
SHAMEFUL @PTIofficial and @GOPunjabPK for showing @manzoorpashteen in a Moharram Ad warning people to avoid sectarianism #PashtunTahafuzMovement https://t.co/eQ5c9pfZ3o
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) September 15, 2018
Afrasiab Khattak of Awami National Party (ANP) has criticsed the act and asked the govt to ‘formally & publicly apologise for running a home department TVC showing PTM leaders as terrorists’.
The government must formally & publicly apologise for running a home department TVC yesterday on national television showing PTM leaders as terrorists. The admins of terror factories dubbing peace loving leaders of a non violent Pashtun youth struggling for HR is condemnable. pic.twitter.com/PCDafUIc9W
— Afrasiab Khattak (@a_siab) September 15, 2018
Reham Khan, ex wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has also took a jibe at the government for ‘this blatant use of government money by PTI in Punjab for racial profiling of Pushtuns & defaming human rights activists who are law abiding citizens.’
Also read: Arrest warrants issued for Pashteen, Ali Wazir and others
Admitting the mistake, the federal government took down the ad. The Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry replied to Dawar that “this advertisement was immediately taken off as soon as it was brought to our attention”.
This advertisement was immediately taken off as soon it was brought to our attn, it was aired hardly a few times before channels were directed not to air such advertisement. I urge people not to circulate this rejected version https://t.co/6wFtgbCsOl
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 15, 2018
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police on Friday issued arrest warrants for Manzoor Pashteen, MNA Ali Wazir and six others.
A letter issued by a senior police official in Swabi and sent to political agents of North and South Waziristan declared Pashteen, Wazir, Dr Said Alam Masood, Fazal Advocate, Khan Zaman, Mohsin Dawood, Samad Khan and Noorul Salam proclaimed offenders and sought their arrest in connection with a case registered against them on August 28
According to the first information report (FIR), PTM workers held a gathering at cricket stadium in Swabi’s Shah Mansoor Town without required no-objection certificate from authorities concerned.
The PTM gained momentum following the extra-judicial murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud in Karachi. It sought capital punishment for the prime suspect in Naqeebullah murder case, former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, recovery of missing persons and removal of landmines in tribal areas. A Jirga, formed by the KP Apex Committee and comprising tribal elders, is holding negotiations with the group to resolve their issues.