Pashteen arrested in Chaman

Balochistan information minister says four people were injured as PTM chief’s guards opened fire

QUETTA:

Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen was arrested by the police in Chaman on Monday after armed men from his vehicle allegedly opened fire at a police vehicle, Deputy Commissioner Raja Athar Abbas said.

However, the PTM leaders have accused law enforcement officers of initiating the gunfire, saying that Pashteen emerged unharmed from the shooting incident.

The incident occurred as Pashteen was attempting to travel to Turbat from Chaman, where he was scheduled to address participants of a sit-in.

Read: MNA Ali Wazir arrested from North Waziristan

Abbas said that after the exchange of gunfire, Levies and police promptly arrived at the scene and apprehended Pashteen from the Gudamo area of Chaman.

Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai stated that Pashteen had addressed the Chaman sit-in without the approval of the administration, referring to PTM as “an anti-state organisation”.

He also stated that an FIR had been lodged against Pashteen by police in Chaman, noting that four people were injured as the PTM chief’s guards opened fire on them.

Last year, Pashteen was booked on charges of treason and terrorism by the Punjab police following his anti-military speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference.

Read More: Manzoor Pashteen booked under terrorism charges for anti-military speech

An FIR registered on the complaint of citizen Naeem Mirza stated that Pashteen hurled baseless allegations at the security agencies while his supporters chanted slogans against the institutions during the event held in Lahore at a private hotel.