The recent Peace Jirga in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, intended as a vital symbol of Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and stability, was poisoned by an act of deliberate political sabotage. When the national anthem was played, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) members Noorullah Tareen and Hanif Pashteen conspicuously remained seated. This was no mere oversight; it was a calculated insult to the sovereignty and unity of Pakistan, an act that speaks louder than any rally cry, and one that Manzoor Pashteen, the movement’s leader, has chosen to meet with a telling silence.
This refusal to show basic respect for the national symbol is not an act of courageous dissent, but one of profound contempt. It utterly dishonours the over 94,000 Pakistanis, including thousands of Pashtuns, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight against terrorism, defending the very soil and communities the Jirga sought to secure. These martyrs stood for the nation; PTM members sat in defiance of it.
The very essence of the Jirga—a traditional symbol of peace and reconciliation was cynically exploited by the PTM to promote ethnic division and delegitimise the state’s efforts. While Pakistan has consistently ensured Pashtun representation in its highest political, military, and administrative echelons, PTM continues to amplify fabricated claims of marginalisation. This narrative of ethnic resentment serves only to undermine the foundational concept of national unity, which is built on the shared history and sacrifices of all its people.
Pashteen’s subsequent refusal to hold his members accountable for this insult is a critical pivot in the ongoing controversy. Instead of addressing the blatant disrespect shown by Tareen and Pashteen, the PTM leadership chooses to amplify its false claims and anti-state propaganda. This selective outrage, which often glorifies terrorists and distorts facts about counter-terrorism efforts—ironically echoes the narratives of hostile foreign actors, specifically foreign intelligence networks like RAW and the Afghan GDI, who actively seek to exploit such platforms to weaken public trust and sow discord.
The people of KP have consistently and bravely rejected terrorism through decades of resilience and immense sacrifice. PTM’s divisive rhetoric seeks to reverse these hard-won gains, attempting to revive ethnic hostility under what appears to be foreign direction. Respect for the national anthem and national symbols is a basic civic duty, not a political commodity to be withdrawn at will. Manzoor Pashteen’s silence on this brazen act of defiance is not just an endorsement of the insult, but a chilling revelation that for the PTM, its actions are not political dissent; they are an outright rejection of the state itself. National unity, grounded in the collective identity and honouring the sacrifices of all citizens, must remain the only way forward.
