These executions took place in sports stadiums across three different provinces. The total number of public executions since 2021 now stands at 10, per AFP.

In a statement, Amnesty International condemned the executions.

“The Taliban de facto authorities continue to flagrantly flout human rights principles with complete disregard for international human rights law. We oppose all executions as a violation of the right to life,” it said.

“Carrying out executions in public adds to the inherent cruelty of the death penalty and can only have a dehumanizing effect on the victim and a brutalizing effect on those who witness the executions,” the statement added.

Amnesty International called on the international community to put pressure on the Taliban “to end this blatant human rights violation and help ensure that international safeguards are respected in Afghanistan.”

The executed individuals were “sentenced to retaliatory punishment” for allegedly shooting other men. The Afghan Supreme Court said their cases were “examined very precisely and repeatedly,” but human rights groups have raised concerns that trials under the Taliban are not fair.

“The families of the victims turned down the opportunity to offer the men amnesty,” per the Supreme Court.

News Desk

dissenttoday.net

The post Rights Groups Sound Alarm As Afghan Taliban Publicly Execute 4 Men In One Day appeared first on Dissent Today.

News Desk

dissenttoday.net

The post Pakistan Govt’s Plan To Send Afghan Refugees Back To Afghanistan Raises Concerns From UNHCR appeared first on Dissent Today.

ANP filed the petition through advocates Babar Khan Yousafzai and Khizar Hayat Khazana.

The petitioner also made other officials of Imran Khan-led government, including former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Mahmood Khan, and former special assistant to chief minister Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, respondents.

The ANP provincial president also requested the court to form a committee to investigate the alleged resettlement of militants in Pakistan. The results of the probe committee should be made public, he said.

He said the government had made considerable progress in eliminating terrorism from the country. However, after Imran Khan came to power, he constantly made statements regarding the resettlement of trained militants from Afghanistan into Pakistan.

The petition added the resettlement could not have been made possible without the involvement of the former ISI chief.

Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of terrorism with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) targeting security officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

TTP is supported by the Taliban-led Afghan government.

News Desk

dissenttoday.net

The post ANP Moves Court Against Former PM Imran Khan, Ex-ISI Chief Faiz Hameed Over Militants’ ‘Resettlement’  appeared first on Dissent Today.

According to the 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism by the US State Department, the outlawed TTP operatives use the porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the tribal belt on both sides as a safe haven for their training and deployment.

Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence of terrorism this year. Earlier, a blast in Peshawar mosque inside a police compound claimed the lives of more than 60 people. The TTP claimed responsibility for one of the deadliest blasts in the city. Last month a police station in Peshawar was also targeted, resulting in three deaths. Meanwhile, the day after the deadly Peshawar attack, Punjab police thwarted an attack on a police station in Mianwali.

On February 17th, three militants from the banned TTP stormed into Karachi police headquarters, leading to an hour-long operation. During the operation, three militants were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official, and a civilian embraced martyrdom.

The US State Department report also stated that the TTP has ideological links with Al Qaeda and both terrorist outfits depend on each other for information and members’ operational expertise.

The report also pointed out that a number of attacks in Pakistan in 2021 were also carried out by separatist groups, like Balochistan Liberation Army.

The report also pointed out that Pakistan serves as safe haven for militant groups that carry out attacks in other countries, while simultaneously acknowledging Pakistan’s effort to curtail this practice.

News Desk

dissenttoday.net

The post Pakistani Taliban Aim To Overthrow Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt And Establish Sharia: Report appeared first on Dissent Today.

The report by the US Institute of Peace (USIP)comes amid a resurgence of terrorism in the country.

Earlier, a blast in Peshawar inside a mosque in a police compound claimed the lives of more than 60 people. Banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for one of the deadliest blasts in the city. Last month a police station in Peshawar was also targeted, resulting in three deaths. Meanwhile, the day after the deadly Peshawar attack, Punjab police thwarted an attack on a police station in Mianwali.

The report further stated that the Afghan Taliban are very supportive of the TTP and are providing the group with a permissive safe haven.

“The TTP also has a lot of popular support in Afghanistan, where both Taliban and non-Taliban constituencies get behind the TTP due to a fervent dislike for Pakistan,” the report said.

The report added that Afghan Taliban are supportive of TTP because they have a consensus that the Pakistani system is “un-Islamic” so there are a number of Taliban fighters joining the TTP.

The report said the Afghan Taliban are unlikely to shift their narrative that is openly supportive of TTP. This was evident from their rhetoric after the Peshawar blast as they did not openly condemn the attack and entirely put the blame on elements within Pakistan.

However, the report said, the Taliban in Afghanistan understands the importance of diplomatic ties, therefore, moving forward their posture will likely appear like a tug-of-war, alternating between moments of tension and de-escalation.

Regarding Pakistan’s response to the TTP’s resurgence, the report said: “after downplaying the TTP’s strength as well as the Taliban’s influence on and relationship with TTP for several years, Pakistani leaders now seem to be contending with the depth of Taliban support for the TTP. Yet Pakistani officials still seem to be searching for a deal — ideally a cease-fire arrangement — through the Taliban.”

“The military and intelligence leadership, as well as officials at the Foreign Ministry, appear to want to work with the Taliban, viewing it as more favorable than the former republic government — which is indicated by Pakistan continuously asking the international community to engage the Taliban. But the Taliban’s uncompromising commitment to the TTP means that Pakistan has to either ignore the violence or concede to the TTP to maintain a relationship with the Taliban,” the report added.

It also said the deteriorating economy also limits the country’s military response to the threat posed by TTP.

News Desk

dissenttoday.net

The post ‘Afghan Taliban Are Still Supporting Militants In Pakistan’ appeared first on Dissent Today.

Pakistan, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been in grips of terrorism for decades, with extremist groups carrying out countless acts of violence and destruction across the country.

After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the terrorist groups have reunited and re-established in neighbouring Pakistan as well. There have been several high-profile terror attacks in the country, causing widespread fear and outrage among the population. These attacks have prompted people to take to the streets in protest against terrorism, calling for an end to the violence and greater accountability for those responsible.

The Peshawar blast that targeted a mosque in a heavily-guarded police compound, claiming over 50 lives, is one of the most recent and deadliest terror attacks in the province. The attack is said to be claimed by the banned militant group, TTP,  and was seen as an attempt to destabilize the country and spread fear among the population.

Besides this blast, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for many other attacks, as well as the targeted killing of police officers. They are also involved in extortion from businessmen and political leaders. They also threaten schools, especially girls’ schools, and locals as well.

In response to these attacks, the people of KP have been taking to the streets, calling for an end to the violence and greater accountability for those responsible. The protests have been organized by a range of groups, including human rights organisations, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens.

The protests are being held in a number of cities across the province, with protesters demanding that the government take effective measures to counter terrorism, and promote peace and stability in the region.

People are calling these protests the end game for terrorists and their sponsors.

Despite the challenges, the protests against terrorism in KP continue to gain momentum, with a growing number of people taking to the streets.

The message of these protests is very clear: terrorism is unacceptable, and the State should take immediate steps to counter terrorism.

In conclusion, the recent terrorist attacks in KP and the protests against them have highlighted the ongoing threat of terrorism in the country.

It is imperative that the international community take action to support the people of Pakistan in their fight against terrorism and only then can we hope to achieve lasting peace and security in this region.

Aizaz Khan

The writer is a student of Bahria University Islamabad Campus

The post People Of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Have Risen Against Terrorism appeared first on Dissent Today.