Ahead of civil rights group Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM)’s rally against enforced disappearances outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, several PTM activists and supporters have been arrested on their way to the federal capital. The arrestees include workers of National Democratic Movement (NDM).
On Thursday, Islamabad administration imposed Section 144 for an indefinite period, banning rallies in the federal capital. The PTM jalsa is scheduled to be held at 3pm today (Friday), and organisers have vowed to go ahead with it despite the crackdown and restrictions.
PTM’s Naimatullah Wazir and NDM’s Hassan Nasir are among those who have been taken into custody. Earlier, more than 80 members of the PTM were reportedly arrested from Shewa, Hangu after the police stopped their convoy heading to Islamabad.
Activist Talimand Khan announced on X (formerly Twitter) that his younger brother had been arrested “as part of midnight crackdown on PTM”.
Swat police has arrested my younger brother Aqalmand Khan as part of midnight crack down on PTM. The state itself is adding fuel to the fire. pic.twitter.com/7xWkxaYyBv
— Talimand Khan (@MirSwat) August 17, 2023
