MNA Ali Wazir has been arrested again from North Waziristan
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Ali Wazir, a Member of the National Assembly from NA-50, was arrested in North Waziristan on Monday under charges of hate speech and incitement, just two months after his release from imprisonment in February. The arrest was carried out by armed forces and FC personnel, who took Wazir into custody and prevented his close aide, Badshah Pashteen, from delivering medication to him. Wazir had participated in a sit-in demanding the release of three Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) members who are currently detained, although their exact whereabouts remain unknown.
Despite initial reports of Ali Wazir’s arrest, his exact location remains undisclosed. Speculations suggest that he may be in Miran Shah and could be transferred to Bannu. MNA Mohsin Dawar of the National Democratic Movement raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of Wazir’s arrest, highlighting that the legal requirements for arresting a person were not met. However, the lack of cellular and internet connectivity in North Waziristan has made it difficult to verify the details of Wazir’s situation.
Ali Wazir, an independent MNA and founding leader of the PTM, was previously arrested in December 2020 and faced multiple cases before being released in February 2023. Manzoor Pashteen, a human rights defender and leader of the PTM, also has several active cases against him. The FIR, registered on June 18, includes charges under sections 153-A, 504, 505, and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Wazir had mentioned on June 17 that he and other PTM workers had received notices from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), but the contents of those notices have not been made public.
Wazir’s wife, Mrs. Saira Nawab, learned about his arrest from the news and confirmed it with relatives. She expressed hope for his honorable release, emphasizing that the authorities have failed to prove any criminal conduct in the past.
In a passionate statement, Hina Jillani, the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, emphasized the importance of recognizing the political status of the PTM (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement). With deep conviction, she urged the military leadership to acknowledge that they are not the sole guardians of Pakistan’s security. Emotions ran high as she stressed that the supporters and leaders of the PTM have the right to choose the issues and causes they wish to base their political struggle upon. Hina Jillani demanded that Pakistan’s security apparatus understand that the PTM represents a significant section of the population in a region plagued by complex and challenging issues. Commenting on the nature of the charges against Ali Wazir and the PTM leadership, Hina Jillani expressed a mixture of concern and indignation. She passionately argued that people’s criticism is an essential part of their freedom of expression and should never be used as a pretext to criminalize speech.
Alamzaib Mehsud Khan, the data lead of PTM, was also arrested in a narcotics case on June 17 and sent to Dera Ismail Khan’s Central Jail. PTM is a non-violent civil rights movement that has been advocating for an end to the profiling of Pashtun youth, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and landmines since 2018.
