Pashtun Tahafuz Movement's (PTM) leader Manzoor Pashteen, in strong words, has rubbished Pakistan's belief of Pashtuns attempting to conspire against the country while demanding for their basic rights.
"Whenever we talk about our rights and justice, these people call it a conspiracy against the country, an attempt to divide the nation," Manzoor Pashteen said in a video clip posted on Twitter.
"This is a clear message to the Pashtuns that the country foundation has been established on injustice, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing," he added.
The human rights activist went on to question, "Does a nation get divided on providing rights to its citizens?"
Pashtuns, who are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan but a minority in Pakistan, have felt neglected and targeted in Pakistan for some time.
Several media reports stated that a large demonstration by PTM was held in Peshawar on Sunday, demanding immediate release of missing persons as well as the provision of basic human rights.
Similar rallies were also organised in Karachi and outside the White House in Washington.
With Pashtun youths staging protests against alleged extrajudicial arrests and killings of members of the ethnic minority by security forces, the blackout of the Pakistan media over the whole affair has been widely criticised by scholars, journalists and others both domestically and internationally.
The PTM will hold next rallies in Lahore on April 22 and in Swat on April 29.
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