PHC bars PTM from holding jirga on disputed land

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday restrained the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) from holding a Pashtoon Qaumi Jirgaon a disputed land. The court also prohibited the PTM organizers and the local Kokikhel tribe from using the land for the event.

A resident of Khyber had filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court against the upcoming jirga by the banned PTM. A two-member bench comprising Justice Atiq Shah and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah heard the case.

The petitioner argued that the venue chosen by the PTM for the proposed jirga was disputed.

The Additional Attorney General informed the court that the PTM had been banned by the federal government, and all PTM activities were legally prohibited.

The court noted that action against any banned organization by law enforcers was legally justified. The court said that the land intended for the Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga was disputed.

The court issued a stay order to halt the jirga on the disputed land and permitted police action to maintain law and order.

The court further restrained the PTM organizers and local Kokikhel tribal leaders from interfering with the land, and adjourned the hearing until October 15.

Earlier, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has barred public servants and students from participating in the PTM’s jirga, scheduled for October 11.

The provincial government has warned the public servants and the students that legal action will be taken against those who will take part in the upcoming event.