An incident that began as a minor dispute on July 7th, 2024 turned into a tragedy that would have ramifications throughout Pakistan’s socio-political landscape. The stabbing of Gilaman Wazir, a respected figure in the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), by a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter, Azad Dawar, resulted in Gilaman’s death on 11th July, setting off a series of events that further polarized the situation. In the following days, the PTM, led by Manzoor Pashteen, seized upon this tragedy to push its agenda, culminating in the announcement of a grand gathering termed the “Pushtun Qaumi Adalat” (PQA), scheduled for 11th October 2024. The real tragedy is not just the senseless loss of life, but also the manipulation of this incident to advance an agenda that seeks discord rather than peace.

The death of Gilaman Wazir may seem like a tragic yet isolated incident. Pakistan’s tribal areas have been afflicted with a complex web of personal, tribal, and political tensions for a long time, highlighting the larger implications.

Despite efforts to integrate these regions through initiatives like the FATA-KP merger and development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the deep-rooted inter-tribal rivalries and occasional violent clashes continue to fester. The incident between Gilaman and Azad, which occurred during a cricket match, shows how personal conflicts can quickly turn deadly in this volatile environment.........

© Daily Times