The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has prohibited government employees from participating in rallies organised by the banned Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

“Employees of all government departments/attached departments/police/autonomous and semi-autonomous public sector institutions and their employees are informed, and stand informed, that participation, overt or covert, physically, financially or otherwise in any programme or activity of a proscribed organization is unlawful and shall be acted against under the law,” said a notification from the chief secretary of KP on Tuesday.

It highlighted that the proscribed organisation was not allowed to hold a programme, which the PTM has named a “court.”

This comes two days after the interior ministry banned the PTM under the anti-terrorism law. The federal government claimed that the party was involved in “spreading anti-national narratives and anarchy, posing a threat” to the country’s peace and security.

The notification claimed that the proscribed Fitna al-Khawarij, previously known as TTP, has also extended its support to the activities of the PTM.

“Students are vulnerable to propaganda on account of their tender age and need to be educated on the consequences of participation, overt or covert, physically, financially or otherwise in any programme or activity of a proscribed organization by the Vice-Chancellors of Public and Private Sector Universities, the principals of public and private sector college on immediate basis,” it said.

State takes action against banned PTM and its supporters

The state has intensified its efforts against the banned PTM, preparing to crack down on those aiding the organization. Under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, the names of facilitators have been included in Schedule Four, which designates individuals associated with terrorist activities.

Among those listed are individuals from South Waziristan, Swabi, Khyber, Bajaur, Malakand, and Mohmand. Notable names from South Waziristan include Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, Shah Faisal Ghazi, Jamal Malyar, and Alam Zeb.

Additionally, other individuals such as Mohammad Sami alias Pashteen, Hayat Khan, Amir Hamza, Ishtiaq Mehsud, Mohammad Bilal, Abdul Qahar, Dr Syed Alam, Saifur Rahman, Murtaza Khan Mehsud, Mustafa Chamto, Mohammad Farooq, and Mohammad Sajjad have also been added to the list.

From Swabi, five individuals—Khayr-ul-Amin, Liaquat Ali Yousafzai, Irfan Majnoon, Mohammad Ali, and Mohammad Usman—have been named. The list also includes six individuals from Bajaur.