Manzoor Pashteen is imprisoned in Attock jail for the third time under 3MPO on the orders of the Punjab government. There are several provisions of this type of law including the 3MPO which are in contravention of human rights and yet they are used against human rights activists and political leaders in present times. Manzoor Pashteen was arrested by the armed forces of Pakistan on his way to Turbat from Chaman (lying in Balochistan province) and was taken to the police station. Manzoor was detained from the DI Khan police station in the morning and was handed over to the Islamabad administration after remaining missing for two days. The Islamabad High Court granted bail in all cases after Manzoor was imprisoned in Adela Jail in false cases. Despite being granted bail, he was illegally kept in jail and subsequently abducted and taken to another jail. He was imprisoned in Jhelum Jail under the 3 MPO Act on the order of Jhelum Deputy Commissioner. The PTM approached the Lahore High Court against the unlawful imposition of the 3MPO. Instead of annulling the 3 MPO, the High Court kept postponing the date of the hearing. It is worth noting that Manzoor Pashteen is being mistreated in detention. Regarding the 3MPO, there are clear statements by judges of the Islamabad High Court, Balochistan High Court and the Peshawar High Court noting that the 3MPO law is against human rights and personal freedom.
Manzoor Pashteen has been banned from meeting visitors in prisons. The caretaker government of Punjab, the Punjab High Judiciary and the bureaucracy only appear to be aiding Manzoor’s miseries in prison. Manzoor has managed to send a letter to his PTM associates from the jail which mentions the inhuman treatment meted out to him. In the letter, Manzoor mentioned the inhumane behaviour in Jhelum Jail and Attock Jail but he still wrote ‘My morale is high, all friends speed up the work to strengthen PTM’. By ignoring the long-standing demands by the Pashtun community, the authorities leave no stone unturned in violating the constitution of Pakistan, he has repeatedly stated. Despite high expectations from the judiciary, the Punjab High Court is protecting those oppressing Manzoor. This only sets a wrong precedent for the millions who profess deep faith in the judiciary. The Pashtuns have lost confidence in the constitution of the state and the Supreme Judiciary of Pakistan. The PTM has protested against the illegal arrest of Manzoor Pashteen in Pakistan. Protest rallies were held outside Pakistan in countries including the US and Europe. PTM has been protesting peacefully for the past seven years. To date, not a single act of violence has taken place in PTM’s protest rallies. The state has registered hundreds of false cases against PTM leaders under anti-terrorism and sedition laws. In Pakistan, there appears to be an unofficial ban on the freedom of expression. On the other hand, the unity of the movements of Pashtun and Baloch nations against the oppression of the state is a deep cause of concern. The unity of the Pashtun and Baloch protests against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses are proving to be a major positive change.
The torture of PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen and activists from minority ethnic groups in Pakistan is gradually being recognized by the international community but we are far from witnessing any decisive actions or directives. The silence of the international community should end.
