Malala expresses solidarity with #PashtunLongMarch

Protesters demand immediate arrest of Rao Anwar

Malala Yousafzai expressed solidarity with the on-going peaceful protest in Islamabad on Tuesday, lending her voice to the demonstrators demanding justice for Naqeebullah Mehsud.

Naqeebullah was killed in what is called a 'fake encounter' by former Malir SSP Rao Anwar in Karachi last month.

"I express my solidarity with the on-going peaceful Islamabad sit-in," she said in a tweet. The young advocate appealed to Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa "to take immediate notice of the genuine demands of the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)."

I express my solidarity with the ongoing peaceful #IslamabadSitin and appeal the Prime Minister, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take immediate notice of the genuine demands of the people of FATA and Pukhtoonkhwa.#PukhtoonLongMarch#JusticeForNaqib

— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) February 6, 2018

The sit-in, termed #PashtunLongMarch, saw thousands march towards National Press Club Islamabad. They are asking for capital punishment for Anwar and his team for the killing of Naqeebullah; setting up of a judicial commission monitored by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP); investigations into ‘extra-judicial’ killing of Pashtuns in Karachi; and recovery of all missing person and their handing over to the courts for fair trial. The list of demands also stresses against enforcing curfew in Fata, Waziristan particularly after any unfortunate incident and removal of landmines, which have left at least 78 people injured in Mehsud area alone.

Yesterday, a 15-member jirga representing protesters met the PM at his office. K-P Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and advisor to the PM Amir Muqam were also present.

The young Nobel prize winner’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai also showed his support for the people of Fata.

"The people of Fata have shown the world that they are not Baitullahs, Hakeemullahs, Naik Muhammads, Faqir Muhammads, Mulla Bradars and Mangal Baghs," he said on the micro-blogging site Twitter. "They don't deserve deaths, displacements, drones and mines. They are the most deserving people to have justice, peace and prosperity."

The people of FATA have shown the world that they are not
Baitullahs
Hakeemullahs
Naik Muhammads
Faqir Muhammads
Mulla Bradars& Mangal Baghs

They don’t deserve deaths, displacements ,drones and mines
They are the most deserving people to have justice, peace and prosperity pic.twitter.com/mhJX3SvLmd

— Ziauddin Yousafzai (@ZiauddinY) February 6, 2018

The #PashtunLongMarch has been trending on the social media site since the past week with thousands expressing solidarity.

A number of politicians, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali, have addressed the sit-in expressing solidarity.

https://twitter.com/LalZaman77/status/960217147195711489

Mashar Asfandyar wali khan at #PashtunLongMarch with top central leadership of Awami National Party. pic.twitter.com/UU7DXdlOZT

— Palwasha Abbas (@Palwasha_Abbas) February 6, 2018

Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Syed Ali Raza Abidi also tweeted his support.

I support the #PashtunLongMarch and the resistance.

— Syed Ali Raza Abidi (@abidifactor) February 2, 2018

ANP member Bushra Gohar also reiterated peaceful protest laws on Twitter.

The #PashtunLongMarch is demanding #JusticeForNaqeeb & the right to life with dignity. The demands are within the Constitution. I don’t understand why controversies are being created. Peaceful protest against injustices is an alienable right. https://t.co/NPaWwSXtBR

— Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar) February 2, 2018