PTM will not be allowed to establish parallel court under guise of jirga: Interior minister

Mohsin Naqvi says govt supports jirgas historically but finds the PTM's proposed format inappropriate

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the government will not allow the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) to establish a parallel court under the guise of a jirga (tribal council).

During a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Naqvi stated that while the government does not object to the holding of jirgas, which have a historical precedent, the format being proposed by the PTM is inappropriate.

“A jirga involves the tribal elders; bringing in thousands of people does not constitute a jirga; it’s something else entirely,” he explained.

He emphasised that it is unacceptable for the PTM to refer to their gatherings as both a jirga and a court, asserting, “This is the decision of our government: we will not permit any parallel court under any circumstances.” 

The ban on the PTM was enacted due to their alleged actions of verbally assaulting the state and police while promoting ethnic discrimination, which, according to Naqvi, is divisive for the nation.

The minister urged the PTM to advocate for their community’s rights but condemned the use of derogatory language, stating, “It is not acceptable to incite the public against the government.”

He noted that some leaders from major political parties had met with PTM leadership, expressing support for discussing rights. However, he cautioned that it is untenable to demand rights while simultaneously resorting to violence.

He further remarked that after these initial discussions, there was no follow-up contact from the political leaders with the PTM representatives.