By Farooq Tariq/Awais Qarni
The latest information about the incident that happened in North Waziristan on May 26 has confirmed that Ali Wazir MP has been transferred to the Peshawar jail and his foot has not been fractured, as was feared in earlier reports.
Recent Videos
Mass communication is great power these days and the state is using and controlling it with iron fists. The media as a whole, is against Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, labelling them as ‘traitors’, ‘attackers on Armed forces’ and so on. The media houses are strictly instructed to not invite any PTM representatives to present their view on the incidents. If we remember, in one of the DGISPR’s recent press conferences it was said to the press, “how can you invite them on TV talk show,s as they are traitors and funded by foreign forces?”. This is the official stance of state, without any proof.
But when the masses and movements are deprived of the resources, the movements generate their own. Mobile phones and the Internet have become the biggest weapons in their hands. On the one side, corporate media presents this movement ‘anti-national’ and its leaders as ‘traitors’ but video evidence makes things clearer than all the official claims. Specifically, in the current incident of Khar Qamar, new video evidence shows how unarmed and peaceful protesters were cheering and chanting slogans when their leaders, Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, arrived at the sit-in location wearing garlands. Suddenly, the caravan was caught in firing from behind. The ambush targeted many people and claimed more than a dozen lives. Ali Wazir turns back in the video and takes a look at the injured, as claimed by Mohsin Dawar in an interview. Mohsin Dawar also said in his statement that when Ali Wazir tried to help the injured, the bullets were fired around him and he was caught by the army. The irony is that the person who interviewed him for social media groups was also arrested immediately.
The video evidence completely discredits the official story that an attack was carried out by Ali Wazir or Mohsin Dawar and his supporters, while all the corporate media is repeating these false allegations.
Government and Opposition
The Federal Cabinet has given its official stand in its meeting that the ‘enemies of development’ in North Waziristan have played into the hands of world powers and that these ‘state-run’ challenges will not be tolerated.
On the other hand, the opposition in the National Assembly has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. Akhtar Mengal, speaking in the National Assembly, has opposed the government’s stand on this incident, saying that every national rights’ movement is labelled as a ‘traitor’ in this country. And the same is happening now to the Pashtun Movement.
While the Minister of State Murad Saeed claimed in the National Assembly, there was ‘evidence’ of an attack led by Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, but the government are reluctant to present these in a court of Law. These allegations on elected members of the National Assembly are nowhere near the truth.
A joint investigation team, comprised of parliamentarians must be formed to seek the truth. PPP leader Naveed Qamar has officially requested to the National Assembly Speaker that a Production Order be issued (to release Ali Wazir), so Ali Wazir can attend the National Assembly and present his viewpoint. The Pakistan Peoples’ Party chairperson, Bilawal Bhutto, has also demanded a Production Order. Even the former Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said in a TV interview that the people seen in the video were not armed, whereas the security forces were.
While speaking to a gathering in Lahore, PML-N Vice President, Maryam Nawaz, has covertly supported the actions of armed forces in the Khar Qamar Massacre, and criticized the government for not supporting the state in this case. This led Maryam Nawaz to being heavily criticised in social media.
Protests, Condemnations and Demonstrations
Protests, condemnations and demonstrations for the release and safe return of Ali Wazir and his comrades and the dismissal of the cases of terrorism against them, are taking place around the world, including Pakistan.
In a press release on 27 May 2019, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) chairperson Dr Mehdi Hasan, demanded the release of MNA Ali Wazir and any other activists taken into custody. It also calls for a parliamentary commission to be set up immediately to inquire into the matter and establish the truth. Moreover, it has been said that with the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the state must ensure the independent access of media and civil society to the former FATA region. The country’s mainstream media must also understand its responsibility to report on this region fairly.
The first overseas protest happened in the Netherlands. Pashtuns from the Netherlands gathered at the Dam Square in Amsterdam in order to condemn the brutal attack on PTM protestors by the armed forces at a military check-post in North-Waziristan. With the given timeframe of fewer than 15 hours, PTM Holland supporters mobilized themselves and joined the protest, and over 450 individuals from all across Holland came to Amsterdam to join a well-organized protest. Both men and women, as well as children, took part. The protest was held at the heart of tourist Amsterdam, at the Dam Square, in front of the Royal Palace. PTM-Holland workers informed dozens of Dutch workers and tourists from all over the world who passed by, about the on-going human rights violation by the Pakistani state, in a protest that lasted over two hours. This protest shows that the Pashtun diaspora has risen and is able to mobilize itself at any given moment all over the world, in order to stand with their brothers and sisters in Pakistan.
There have been ongoing protests in other countries, as well. PTM Canada also called a protest which was joined by many overseas Pakistanis, mainly Pashtuns. In Argentina, socialists raised placards that read “Pakistan: We demand Ali Wazir turn up alive and liberated”.
Labour organizations, trade unions and left parties of the world are publishing news articles on their websites for the release of Ali Wazir and also sending solidarity messages to Asian Marxist Review.
Students and youth took rallies and protested for the release of Ali Wazir and other PTM activists in Pakistan held Kashmir, Rawalakot and Khaigala.
The most important is Dharna in Miran Shah. Even the curfew is imposed in the area but masses from different villages and towns, in great numbers are reaching there. Telephone lines have been cut off and mobile phone services are suspended. But the numbers of protesters are continuously increasing.
While speaking a BBC’s representative on a satellite phone, Mohsin Dawar said that the protests and Dharnas will not be ended until the safe return of our comrades and establishment of civilian supremacy in the region.
Apart from the previous FATA, there are protests in many cities of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Thousands of people participated in a protest rally in Chaman, Baluchistan. The massive gatherings are happening in Zhob and Qila Saif Ullha, districts of Baluchistan. Every village and town of South Waziristan is witnessing huge rallies and protests for the release of Ali Wazir and other PTM activists.
It is now clear that the popularity of Ali Wazir has been increased many times in the context of this incident, particularly in FATA. The above-mentioned video is going to be very helpful to clear the allegations made by the state against Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar and other PTM activists.
This incident has once again made PTM a matter of global interest. Today, almost all international journals have published reports and articles about Ali Wazir and the Khar Qamar Massacre. The articles written in the past regarding Ali Wazir are recirculating on social media. This wave is not ending, as the state and its apologists thought; in fact every attack on them is strengthening them.
May 29, 2019
