A Pakistani court Saturday ordered the release of a Pashtun rights leader critical of the military, his lawyer said, weeks after he was arrested on sedition charges.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-court-denies-bail-to-prominent-pashtun-minority-leader-arrested-for-sedition-277091">Manzoor Pashteen</a>, chief of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-court-denies-bail-to-prominent-pashtun-minority-leader-arrested-for-sedition-277091">Pashtun Protection Movement</a> (PTM), was arrested last month on charges of sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state, and criminal conspiracy.

His lawyer Saeed Akhtar told AFP that he had already been bailed on three of five complaints against him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-court-denies-bail-to-prominent-pashtun-minority-leader-arrested-for-sedition-277091">Pakistan court denies bail to prominent Pashtun minority leader arrested for 'sedition'</a>

"Today the court has granted him bail in the remaining two, against surety bonds of one hundred thousand rupees ($650) each," Akhtar said.

He added that he hoped Pashteen would be released from jail later Saturday. A government prosecutor also confirmed the bail to AFP.

Pashteen, a former veterinary student, and the PTM have rattled Pakistan's military since 2018 with calls to end alleged abuses by security forces targeting ethnic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-court-denies-bail-to-prominent-pashtun-minority-leader-arrested-for-sedition-277091">Pashtuns </a>in the restive tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

Once plagued by militancy and unrest, the region is where Washington believes Pakistan provides safe haven to militant groups including the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-stage-protest-against-state-atrocities-133496">Meet Manzoor Pashteen, the man leading protests to defy Pakistan army</a>

The army has carried out many operations in the region, and security across Pakistan has dramatically improved in recent years.

But the PTM claim the operations came at a heavy price because of alleged abuses, including enforced disappearances and targeted killings.

The movement remains peaceful, but has been notable for its direct verbal attacks on the armed forces in a country where such criticism is largely seen as a red line.

Islamabad and the military have repeatedly denied the claims and arrested PTM activists.

A far-reaching media blackout has kept news and images of peaceful PTM rallies off TV screens and front pages nationwide.

An opinion piece written by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-stage-protest-against-state-atrocities-133496">Pashteen </a>in the New York Times in 2019 was censored in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-stage-protest-against-state-atrocities-133496">Pakistan</a>.

Pashtuns are a fiercely independent ethnic group that straddles both sides of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

They account for roughly 15 percent of Pakistan's popul.

A Pakistani court Saturday ordered the release of a Pashtun rights leader critical of the military, his lawyer said, weeks after he was arrested on sedition charges.

A Pakistani court Saturday ordered the release of a Pashtun rights leader critical of the military, his lawyer said, weeks after he was arrested on sedition charges. Manzoor Pashteen, chief of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), was arrested last month on charges of sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state, and criminal conspiracy. His lawyer Saeed Akhtar told AFP that he had already been bailed on three of five complaints against him. Pakistan court denies bail to prominent Pashtun minority leader arrested for 'sedition' "Today the court has granted him bail in the remaining two, against surety bonds of one hundred thousand rupees ($650) each," Akhtar said. He added that he hoped Pashteen would be released from jail later Saturday. A government prosecutor also confirmed the bail to AFP. Pashteen, a former veterinary student, and the PTM have rattled Pakistan's military since 2018 with calls to end alleged abuses by security forces targeting ethnic Pashtuns in the restive tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan. Once plagued by militancy and unrest, the region is where Washington believes Pakistan provides safe haven to militant groups including the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network. Also read: Meet Manzoor Pashteen, the man leading protests to defy Pakistan army The army has carried out many operations in the region, and security across Pakistan has dramatically improved in recent years. But the PTM claim the operations came at a heavy price because of alleged abuses, including enforced disappearances and targeted killings. The movement remains peaceful, but has been notable for its direct verbal attacks on the armed forces in a country where such criticism is largely seen as a red line. Islamabad and the military have repeatedly denied the claims and arrested PTM activists. A far-reaching media blackout has kept news and images of peaceful PTM rallies off TV screens and front pages nationwide. An opinion piece written by Pashteen in the New York Times in 2019 was censored in Pakistan. Pashtuns are a fiercely independent ethnic group that straddles both sides of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They account for roughly 15 percent of Pakistan's popul.

Pakistan court orders release of Pashtun rights leader

While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Pakistan </a>Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Imran Khan</a> continues to harp about the rights of the people of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Kashmir</a>, he is now facing protests about Pakistan's continued interference in Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir.

People from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-slams-pakistan-over-imran-khans-remarks-summons-pak-diplomat-recalls-its-envoy-205858">Afghanistan </a>protested outside the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Pakistan </a>embassy in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Kabul </a>against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Islamabad</a>'s continued interference in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Kashmir </a>and in Afghanistan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Calling Imran Khan’s bluff: India needs to realign its Pakistan policy</a>

The protesters were seen carrying placards like ''down with Pakistan'' and ''Pakistan is enemy''.

They also demanded the release of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-stage-protest-against-state-atrocities-133496">Manzoor Pashteen</a>, the chief of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-stage-protest-against-state-atrocities-133496">Pashtun Tahafuz Movement</a>, a movement for the protection of ethnic Pashtun people in Pakistan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-tahaffuz-movement-stage-protest-against-state-atrocities-133496">Meet Manzoor Pashteen, the man leading protests to defy Pakistan army</a>

The 27-year-old activist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-slams-pakistan-over-imran-khans-remarks-summons-pak-diplomat-recalls-its-envoy-205858">Pashteen</a>, was arrested along with nine supporters in Peshawar last month and has been sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand.

The protests dampened the embassy's plans to hold the so-called Kashmir solidarity day which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-slams-pakistan-over-imran-khans-remarks-summons-pak-diplomat-recalls-its-envoy-205858">Pakistan </a>observes every year on February 5.

Pakistan has been marking this day since 1990 by calling for the secession of Kashmir from India.

While Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to harp about the rights of the people of Kashmir, he is now facing protests about Pakistan's continued interference in Jammu and Kashmir.

While Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan continues to harp about the rights of the people of Kashmir, he is now facing protests about Pakistan's continued interference in Jammu and Kashmir. People from Afghanistan protested outside the Pakistan embassy in Kabul against Islamabad's continued interference in Kashmir and in Afghanistan. Also read: Calling Imran Khan’s bluff: India needs to realign its Pakistan policy The protesters were seen carrying placards like ''down with Pakistan'' and ''Pakistan is enemy''. They also demanded the release of Manzoor Pashteen, the chief of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, a movement for the protection of ethnic Pashtun people in Pakistan. Also read: Meet Manzoor Pashteen, the man leading protests to defy Pakistan army The 27-year-old activist Pashteen, was arrested along with nine supporters in Peshawar last month and has been sent to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. The protests dampened the embassy's plans to hold the so-called Kashmir solidarity day which Pakistan observes every year on February 5. Pakistan has been marking this day since 1990 by calling for the secession of Kashmir from India.

Afghans protest outside Pakistan embassy in Kabul

A clash between Pashtun activists and local militants today killed two people and wounded 25 others in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said.

The incident occurred in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan where the military has in the past conducted a string of punishing offensives to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

Supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), which is led by young activist Manzoor Pashteen, wanted to hold a rally to protest against growing corruption in the tribal regions.

"The clash erupted after supporters of Manzoor Pashteen were stopped from holding a protest rally by local militants belonging to Maulvi Nazir group " a senior local administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The Pashtun activists torched two offices of the militants, which led to an exchange of fire, killing two people and wounding 25 others, the offical said. Authorities were not immediately able to ascertain the identities of those killed and injured.

Maulvi Nazir Wazir was a pro-government militant commander who carried out attacks on US troops deployed in Afghanistan. He was killed in a drone strike in 2013.&nbsp

The incident occurred in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan where the military has in the past conducted a string of punishing offensives to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants

A clash between Pashtun activists and local militants today killed two people and wounded 25 others in a restive Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said. The incident occurred in the Rustam Bazar of Wana, the main town of South Waziristan where the military has in the past conducted a string of punishing offensives to hunt down Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants. Supporters of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), which is led by young activist Manzoor Pashteen, wanted to hold a rally to protest against growing corruption in the tribal regions. "The clash erupted after supporters of Manzoor Pashteen were stopped from holding a protest rally by local militants belonging to Maulvi Nazir group " a senior local administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The Pashtun activists torched two offices of the militants, which led to an exchange of fire, killing two people and wounding 25 others, the offical said. Authorities were not immediately able to ascertain the identities of those killed and injured. Maulvi Nazir Wazir was a pro-government militant commander who carried out attacks on US troops deployed in Afghanistan. He was killed in a drone strike in 2013.

Two killed as activists clash with militants in Pakistan tribal area

Members of the Pashtun community called Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) staged a massive rally in Lahore's Mochi Gate on Sunday after the Punjab government's refusal to issue permits to the event. The community staged a series of protests against extrajudicial arrests and killings of members of the ethnic minority by security forces.

The killing of an aspiring model from the community - which makes up about 15 per cent of Pakistan's 207 million population - in January sparked the countrywide protests. The PTM will hold a rally on May 12 in Karachi. His death sparked protests who accused Pakistan's security forces of racial profiling, seeing all Pashtuns as Taliban simply because many insurgents in Afghanistan and Pakistan are recruited from among Pashtun tribesmen.

Among those who took the rostrum were Tahera Jalib — daughter of revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, whose father wrote Dastoor as well as Amina Masood Janjua of the Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, whose husband has been missing since 2005.

The groups leader 25-year-old Manzoor Pashteen, has become the face of the country's oppressed Pashtun, charging that in the name of its "war on terror" the military has used indiscriminate force as it hunts for Taliban hideouts in the tribal regions where the Pashtun dominate, imposing collective punishments like bulldozing the homes of family members of suspected militants and punishing entire villages for extremist attacks. Wearing his signature red embroidered cap and a dark, well-kept beard, Mansoor seems an unlikely leader.

<img alt="28INTHVLRPAKISTAN-PROTESTS.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="690" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/28INTHVLRPAKISTAN-PROTESTS.jpg" width="460" />

Manzoor Pashteen

On Sunday, he led another Pashtun Long March in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, demanding protection and rights.

As per reports, Masood was involved with the Islamist militants which were denied by his family and close peers.

Even though the rallies have not been violent and more like peaceful demonstrations across the country, the authorities have boycotted the recent one staged in Lahore and also detained several leaders.

Manzoor has been demanding the release of all “missing people.” He posits that, if these missing people have committed any crime against the state of Pakistan, they should be tried as citizens of the state in courts of law.

Second, he has called for the establishment of a judicial commission in Pakistan, that assesses the legitimacy of extrajudicial killings committed so far. 
Finally, Manzoor has demanded that all landmines planted during security operations during the War on Terror, be cleared by authorities in FATA, that the paramilitary forces stop harassing Pashtun families on the pretext of search operations. Additionally, he demands that the number of security check posts be reduced in the northwestern areas and that Pashtun citizens of the state not be subjected to constant embarrassment.

Manzoor announced that the next stop for the movement would be Swat following which a gathering would be held in Karachi on May 12 — to mark the day when over 40 people were killed in the metropolis in 2007.

The district administration had earlier rejected an application by the Lahore Left Front for the PTM rally citing security concerns.

Punjab police officials — both male and female — provided security at the venue to ensure that no one entered the ground with weapons or sharp objects.

A number of PTM leaders were briefly detained on Saturday while workers found the venue of the rally flooded with water when they arrived to kickstart preparations today.

The killing of an aspiring model from the community - which makes up about 15 per cent of Pakistan's 207 million population - in January sparked the countrywide protests

Members of the Pashtun community called Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) staged a massive rally in Lahore's Mochi Gate on Sunday after the Punjab government's refusal to issue permits to the event. The community staged a series of protests against extrajudicial arrests and killings of members of the ethnic minority by security forces. The killing of an aspiring model from the community - which makes up about 15 per cent of Pakistan's 207 million population - in January sparked the countrywide protests. The PTM will hold a rally on May 12 in Karachi. His death sparked protests who accused Pakistan's security forces of racial profiling, seeing all Pashtuns as Taliban simply because many insurgents in Afghanistan and Pakistan are recruited from among Pashtun tribesmen. Among those who took the rostrum were Tahera Jalib — daughter of revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, whose father wrote Dastoor as well as Amina Masood Janjua of the Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, whose husband has been missing since 2005. The groups leader 25-year-old Manzoor Pashteen, has become the face of the country's oppressed Pashtun, charging that in the name of its "war on terror" the military has used indiscriminate force as it hunts for Taliban hideouts in the tribal regions where the Pashtun dominate, imposing collective punishments like bulldozing the homes of family members of suspected militants and punishing entire villages for extremist attacks. Wearing his signature red embroidered cap and a dark, well-kept beard, Mansoor seems an unlikely leader. Manzoor Pashteen On Sunday, he led another Pashtun Long March in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, demanding protection and rights. As per reports, Masood was involved with the Islamist militants which were denied by his family and close peers. Even though the rallies have not been violent and more like peaceful demonstrations across the country, the authorities have boycotted the recent one staged in Lahore and also detained several leaders. Manzoor has been demanding the release of all “missing people.” He posits that, if these missing people have committed any crime against the state of Pakistan, they should be tried as citizens of the state in courts of law. Second, he has called for the establishment of a judicial commission in Pakistan, that assesses the legitimacy of extrajudicial killings committed so far. Finally, Manzoor has demanded that all landmines planted during security operations during the War on Terror, be cleared by authorities in FATA, that the paramilitary forces stop harassing Pashtun families on the pretext of search operations. Additionally, he demands that the number of security check posts be reduced in the northwestern areas and that Pashtun citizens of the state not be subjected to constant embarrassment. Manzoor announced that the next stop for the movement would be Swat following which a gathering would be held in Karachi on May 12 — to mark the day when over 40 people were killed in the metropolis in 2007. The district administration had earlier rejected an application by the Lahore Left Front for the PTM rally citing security concerns. Punjab police officials — both male and female — provided security at the venue to ensure that no one entered the ground with weapons or sharp objects. A number of PTM leaders were briefly detained on Saturday while workers found the venue of the rally flooded with water when they arrived to kickstart preparations today.

Meet Manzoor Pashteen, the man leading protests to defy Pakistan army