QUETTA:
Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen was arrested by the police in Chaman on Monday after armed men from his vehicle allegedly opened fire at a police vehicle, Deputy Commissioner Raja Athar Abbas said.
However, the PTM leaders have accused law enforcement officers of initiating the gunfire, saying that Pashteen emerged unharmed from the shooting incident.
The incident occurred as Pashteen was attempting to travel from Chaman to Turbat city in Balochistan, where he was scheduled to address participants of a sit-in.
Read More: Manzoor Pashteen booked under terrorism charges for anti-military speech
Abbas said that after the exchange of gunfire, levies and police promptly reached the scene and apprehended Pashteen from the Gudamo area of Chaman.
Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai stated that Pashteen had addressed the Chaman sit-in without the approval of the administration, referring to PTM as “an anti-state organisation”.
He also stated that an FIR has been lodged against Pashteen by police in Chaman, saying that four people were also injured as the PTM chief’s guards opened fire on them.
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Last year, Pashteen was booked on charges of treason and terrorism by the Punjab police following his anti-military speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference.
A first information report (FIR) registered on the complaint of citizen Naeeem Mirza stated that Pashteen hurled baseless allegations at the security agencies while his supporters chanted slogans against the institutions during the event held in Lahore at a private hotel.
