Pakistan: Tens of thousands protest nationwide following assassination of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader May 5

Event

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in urban centers nationwide on Tuesday, May 5, after militants assassinated Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Sardar Arif Wazir on Saturday, May 2. The largest protest was reported in Wana (South Waziristan district) in contravention of a nationwide ban on public gatherings.

A heightened security presence, localized transportation disruptions, and associated protests are to be expected in the near term.

Context

The PTM works to demand rights for Pashtuns - the country's largest ethnic minority - in Pakistan's former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The movement alleges human rights violations by Pakistan's military against Pashtuns in the country's northwest, including violence such as extrajudicial killings, harassment, and missing persons.

Advice

Individuals in Pakistan are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.