MANZOOR Pashteen has emerged as a demagogue from the Pashtun National Jirga, announcing measures such as cheap electricity for Pashtuns, an end to the customs of Swara and Wani in Pashtunwali, and the resolution of a six-decade sectarian conflict in the Kurram tribal district. Among his controversial claims was the formation of a Pashtun “Lashkar,” a direct violation of Article 256 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which prohibits private armies. He also issued an ultimatum demanding that the Armed Forces withdraw from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) within two months.

These actions validate the federal government’s ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) as a justified security measure, revealing it as a potential threat. Pashteen even threatened to sabotage national power transmission lines, contradicting the movement’s previously non-violent stance and exposing its leadership to legal repercussions. Despite not participating in parliamentary politics, Pashteen continues to propose political solutions and........

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