PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday dismissed two writ petitions filed against the federal government’s decision to ban the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), declaring the government’s action lawful in a short order.
The PTM leaders, including Manzoor Pashteen and Masoom Shah, had challenged the federal government’s decision of ban on the rights organisation.
The petitioners’ lawyers informed a two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal that the federal government had imposed the ban on October 6, 2024, claiming the federal cabinet approved the move in a single day in violation of procedural rules.
They contended that eight out of 10 cabinet members had not responded, and that the approval process was flawed. The counsel further maintained that the government had not disclosed clear reasons or evidence for declaring PTM a proscribed organisation, despite alleging involvement in terrorism. The lawyers also argued that PTM was an organisation, not a political party, and therefore did not require registration as a political party.
Representing the federation, the deputy attorney general told the court that Masoom Shah had earlier filed a petition claiming to be PTM’s head, followed by Manzoor Pashteen making the same claim, raising questions about representation.
He said that the PTM leaders had delivered speeches inciting hatred against the country and had run anti-state campaigns on social media aimed at creating distrust among youth toward the government
He also questioned why PTM was not registered if it claimed to be an organisation, or with the Election Commission if it considered itself a political party, suggesting dialogue with the government instead. After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench dismissed both petitions and upheld the federal government’s decision. A detailed verdict will be issued later.
