The Long March of 18th August, while successful in conveying the community’s message to the authorities, once again marks a dark chapter in the history of the state’s management of Human Rights issues. Even before the actual congregation, scores of PTM were picked up and prevented from holding a protest rally in front of the Supreme Court in Islamabad on August 18. The history of our institutions is marred with violence against political workers and human rights advocates. As expected, on August 18, PTM workers were subjected to cruelty and violence. There were thousands of people already gathered by early morning before PTM leader Manzoor Pashtun and former MNA Ali Wazir reached the rally venue on their regular schedule. Ali Wazir, who is out on bail at present, remained in jail for 26 months on the charge of seditious statements, while on the other hand, the state is engaging with the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan on matters of amnesty and giving up arms.
White flags signifying peace were waved by thousands of people at the rally. Just as the rally left, the state forces blocked the roads by installing large containers, a usual practice by police authorities. The state forces were armed with tear gas, batons and modern weapons in thousands. A war atmosphere was established in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. Hundreds of people had reached the Supreme Court of Islamabad before the rally. Our authorities rounded up several PTM colleagues at the gates of the Supreme Court and hundreds of people were arrested. Students of Quaid-i-Azam University were arrested as well. Earlier too, a nationwide crackdown was launched against PTM workers and leaders throughout the night. In Khyber, Peshawar, Swat Charsadda, Mardan, Hangu, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Quetta, Chaman, Zhob, Lorelai and other areas hundreds of PTM were arrested at night. Thousands of people who came from all over the country to participate in the rally were stopped on the roads. The DI Khan Motorway and the Peshawar Motorway remained closed. Despite all this, an ocean of people turned up to protest against the violation of their human rights, forced disappearances and detention of PTM leaders like Eid Rahman, Zakim, Gilaman Wazir.
Fear no longer worries the PTM activists. It is worth noting that despite the number of workers in the thousands, PTM stuck to the principles of non-violence and kept its demonstration within the ambit of the law. Manzoor Pashtun said that we have the power to remove all obstacles and reach the Supreme Court but the Pashtuns believe in non-violence. We have come to demand our constitution and human rights from the Supreme Court, he said, and it was felt that even those who demanded their basic rights were deemed as criminals at the hands of authorities.