Pakistan Bans Pashtun Rights Group Amid Security Concerns

Pakistan has officially banned the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), designating it as a “proscribed organization,” Al Jazeera reported today.

The federal government cited the PTM’s activities as “prejudicial to the peace and security of the country.” Founded in 2014, the PTM advocates for the rights of ethnic Pashtuns impacted by the ongoing conflict with the Taliban and has been vocal against the military’s alleged enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Recent weeks have seen over 200 PTM activists arrested ahead of a planned jirga. The movement, known for its peaceful protests, has drawn tens of thousands to rallies demanding better state protection. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the ban, calling it an “extreme decision” that lacks transparency.

As Pakistan prepares to host a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, authorities have intensified efforts to suppress dissent, including a crackdown on protests linked to former Prime Minister Imran Khan.