PTM chief accuses Pakistani media of promoting terrorism

Allegations come hours after DG ISPR warned PTM leadership against playing in the hands of the enemy

ISLAMABAD: Hours after Pakistan Army warned the leadership of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement on Monday against “playing in the hands of the enemy”, Manzoor Pashteen accused the Pakistani media of supporting terrorism in the country at the behest of the establishment.

In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), Urdu Service, the PTM chief claimed that the Pakistani media promoted terrorism at the behest of the military establishment, and never fostered peace.

The VOA interview came immediately after the chief military spokesperson addressed a news briefing in which he accused the PTM of receiving funds from Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies.

Pashteen was interviewed by both VOA Urdu Service and VOA Deewa Radio (Pashto Service). The VOA service was blocked by the government last year for “false and prejudiced reporting”.

The support extended to PTM and its leader has raised questions over the credibility and designs of a controversial survey carried out by a foreign news agency.

The agency conducted two surveys on its Twitter account, but failed in achieving the ‘desired’ results. A majority of social media users supported the stance adopted by Pakistan Army against the PTM. Only 11% and 28% of the people demonstrated difference of opinion in the two surveys, respectively.

Earlier in the day, Major General Asif Ghafoor accused the PTM of getting funds from Afghanistan’s secret agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

“Those who are playing in others hands, their time is up. Their time is up,” said Ghafoor, adding that possible action against the PTM would not harm anyone. “The instructions of the army chief will be strictly followed. Every step will be taken according to the law,” the chief military spokesperson explained.

This was the first time the military spoke about dealing with the PTM. Previously, while the army did express reservations over the PTM’s protests and their activities, it never expressed inclination towards taking any action.

The army spokesperson also spoke in Pashto to directly convey a message to the Pashtun.

He said some elements were trying to mislead the people to provoke them against Pakistan and its institutions. He assured the people that the armed forces were working tirelessly to solve their problems.

The armed forces would not rest until their issues were resolved, he said, hoping they would not pay head to “rhetoric and instead will stop these anti-state forces”.

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