Edinburgh, Scotland – April 8, 2025
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement United Kingdom (PTM UK) actively participated in a protest demonstration held in front of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The protest, led by members of the Baloch diaspora in the UK, called for the immediate release of detained Pashtun and Baloch activists and condemned ongoing human rights violations in Pakistan, particularly targeting marginalized ethnic communities.
Representing PTM UK at the demonstration were several key figures, including Central Committee Member Faheem Wazir, Media Head Adil Dawar, and numerous grassroots members and supporters from across Scotland, UK. Their participation signified a strong show of solidarity between the Pashtun and Baloch communities.
The protest highlighted the cases of several detained or forcibly disappeared activists, including:
• Ali Wazir, a prominent Pashtun leader and former Member of Pakistan’s National Assembly
• Dr. Maharang Baloch, a vocal human rights activist from Balochistan
• Malak Naseer Kokikhail, known for his advocacy on tribal rights and peace
• Haji Abdul Samad Khan, a respected Pashtun elder and PTM Central Committee Member.
• Bebo Baloch, a young Baloch activist and voice for women’s rights
Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans demanding an end to what they describe as the ongoing genocide of Pashtuns and Baloch people and the state sponsored enforced disappearances that have plagued the region for decades. The demonstrators called on the international community, particularly the UK and other Western democracies, to take urgent notice of the situation and apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to uphold basic human rights.
Faheem Wazir, speaking at the protest, emphasized the unity between oppressed ethnic groups in Pakistan and stressed the need for global awareness of the human rights abuses occurring in the region. Adil Dawar, in a media briefing, highlighted the role of the diaspora in amplifying the voices of the voiceless and condemned the silence of international institutions on the crisis.
The protest concluded peacefully, with participants vowing to continue their advocacy through legal and democratic means. Organizers stated that more demonstrations and awareness campaigns are planned in the coming weeks across Europe.
This event marks yet another instance of transnational solidarity and reflects the growing mobilization of the Pashtun and Baloch diaspora communities demanding justice, accountability, and freedom for their people.
