Professor Arman Luni’s father, Mohammad Ismail had a desire in his heart that he and his daughters get justice but his wish could not be fulfilled while he was alive. Professor Arman Luni’s father passed away recently as a sad and dejected man. Several questions related to Prof Luni’s unfortunate death and the attitude of authorities remain unattended.”Let no father or elder experience what Arman Luni’s father went through” were the words of PTM leader Manzoor Pashtun on the occasion of the last rites of Muhammad Ismail Akka. Five-year-old innocent girl Awasta, seven-year-old girl Heela and ten-year-old Meena cried as they had a final glimpse of their grandfather’s dead body. On February 2, 2019, Prof Luni, a teacher, poet, and PTM leader Prof. Armaan Loni lost his life, allegedly by the state authorities in Loralai district in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. His little daughters Meena, Hela and Awasta would often ask their grandfather why their father did not return home, and why he did not meet them. Seventy-year-old Muhammad Ismail did not have any answers to the question. Muhammad Ismail used to hide all the pain as he would divert his granddaughters’ attention. The three girls would then ask the same questions to their paternal aunt (Luni’s sister) Wrranga Luni. I think no one had the answers to the questions. Muhammad Ismail Akka taught his young son Arman to stand against oppression. Shaheed Luni’s father waited for four years for justice but passed away. For four years, Luni’s case has been denied a fair trial under various pretexts. PTM lawyers have been appearing in the courts to no avail. PTM held hundreds of demonstrations, press conferences, seminars and protests to bring justice to Armaan Luni. We are witness to the protests on social media, but to date, justice evades Prof Luni. Such delays widen the trust deficit that is already on the rise between the people and the institutions.
Armaan Luni was a prominent member of the PTM, a human rights movement that stands against oppression and oppression and spoke against the use of violence against the Pashtun and the Baloch communities. An able PTM leader, he used to participate in every protest meeting, procession, and seminar of PTM along with his sister Wrranga. Arman had a strong belief in social equality, women’s rights and women’s literacy. It is tragic that during the time of Prof Luni’s death, his youngest daughter Awasta was just one year old, while Heela and Meena were four years old and six years old respectively. Today, while Prof Arman remains a symbol of the PTM’s sacrifices for the cause of the community’s human rights. Wrranga has carried her brother’s legacy forward through his memories and intellectual contribution to the Pashtun Tehreek. PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen, along with Ali Wazir and others friends will continue representing Prof Luni’s thoughts in their struggle. Senior figures from the Pashtun politics like Mashar Manzoor Pashteen, Ali Wazir, members of Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party leaders and the Awami National Party attended the last rites of Professor Luni’s father. Students and other classes participated. “I am proud of my father,” Wrranga Luni said. She further stated that her father “raised us despite the hardship. He taught us to always stand with the oppressed. My father sacrificed his young son Arman Loni for the soil of the country and the oppressed nations”. PTM central leader and MNA Ali Wazir felt that the father of our martyred colleague Professor Arman Loni was a great person and the life and struggle of both Arman and Wrrange demonstrate how he raised his children. This is how every father should raise his children. We should prepare for the forthcoming challenges and work towards educating the next generation. Tomorrow, when Prof Luni’s daughters will raise their voices for justice, they need to be prepared to face the challenges. Despite the pressure to give in, Ali Wazir exhorted that “we will never give forgiveness and we will never apologize”. PTM leader Manzoor Pashtun shared his thoughts on his father’s travails as he passed away awaiting justice. Professor Luni Shaheed was our frontline comrade in the PTM. We will always stand by his family in all circumstances.