Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement chief Manzoor Pashteen has been booked under terrorism and sedition charges for criticizing state institutions during a speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference.

According to the text of the FIR, charges of terrorism, sedition, and incitement against institutions have been added against Pashteen.

In a tweet, Pashteen said that a complaint, on charges of treason and intimidation, had been registered against him for his speech at the conference.

The case has been registered by a citizen under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997-11-X at Lahore’s Civil Lines police station.

The complainant claimed that he was at the Avari Hotel in Lahore to attend the Asma Jahangir Conference where Manzoor Pashteen “unjustly criticized state officials and commanders during his speech”.

[Related development: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar resigned on Monday, after he attended the Asma Jahangir conference where Manzoor Pashteen and Justice Qazi Faiz Esa were vocal in their criticism] The FIR stated that 15 to 20 of Pashteen’s supporters chanted slogans against the army and tried to “provoke people against the armed forces and the state”. The PTM chief criticized national security agencies without justification, it added.

“Pashteen fueled racial prejudice, and threatened the entire state,” said the complainant, adding that Pashteen should be held accountable for what he said.

A day earlier, Pashteen, during his speech at the Asma Jahangir Conference held in Lahore, said that democracy does not exist in the country but a monarchy with the army chief the de facto king issuing all orders.