Amsterdam, 06 February 2021

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) is planning to hold a large peaceful demonstration tomorrow (07 February 2021) in Peshawar (Pakistan) to remember Arman Loni who two years ago was beaten to death by a police officer in Baluchistan. Pashtuns from all over Pakistan are trying to reach to Peshawar to participate in this protest March.
As can be seen on social media, unfortunately, the Pakistani authorities have again turned to their tactics of obstruction and intimidation. Most roads leading to Peshawar have been blocked in order to prevent thousands of PTM members from reaching to PTM’s protest march. As a result, not only PTM protestors, but also thousands of ordinary people, including women and children have been stranded in the cold on the roads outside Peshawar.
PTM Europe condemns this repressive act of the Pakistani state, which violates the right to peaceful protest and assembly.
We call on human rights organizations, European Union, United States and other free nations of the world, and the free media to hold Pakistan accountable for these human rights violations and call on Pakistan to immediately lift the road blockades and allow the protestors to exercise their right to freedom of speech.

Sincerely,

PTM Europe