Pakistan bans PTM citing nation security concerns

Pakistan on Sunday imposed a ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement ( PTM ), an ethnic Pashtun political party, citing it as a threat to national security.

The Pakistan's interior ministry announced the decisionunder Section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997. The PTM, led by Manzoor Pashteen, was active in the tribal region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and often criticized the country's armed forces.

The PTM "poses a significant danger to public order and safety in the country," according to the ministry's notification.

The PTM originated as the Mahsud Tahafuz Movement in May 2014, founded by a group of students to remove landmines from Waziristan and other parts of the tribal region. The group gained prominence in January 2018 after rebranding itself as the PTM, following the popularity it gained for seeking justice for Naqeebullah Mehsud, a fellow Pashtun who was allegedly killed by police in a fake encounter in Karachi.

Pakistan authorities have accused the group of being influenced by anti-state elements operating from within and abroad, particularly in Afghanistan. However, the PTM has consistently denied such allegations.