In a heart-wrenching act of courage, Prem Kolhi, a Hindu man, risked his life to save the body of Dr. Shahnawaz Kumbhar, a physician who was killed while in police custody in Mirpurkhas, Pakistan. Dr. Kumbhar, accused of blasphemy, was subjected to a gruesome fate as a mob set his body ablaze. Kolhi’s brave attempt to rescue the burning corpse starkly contrasts the indifference of the Paki establishment towards minorities.

The Sindh Police orchestrated this tragic incident. By allowing the mob to carry out such an act, the police have demonstrated a chilling complicity in the violence against those accused of blasphemy.

Disturbingly, the Sindh Police were celebrated by some community members after the incident, with flowers thrown at officers. This grotesque celebration of violence not only reveals a disturbing attitude towards the rule of law but also underscores the systemic failures of a police force that is supposed to protect all citizens, particularly the vulnerable minorities who are often the targets of religious extremism.

Dr. Kumbhar’s case is emblematic of a dangerous trend in Pakistan, where accusations of blasphemy lead to mob violence and extrajudicial killings. The misuse of blasphemy laws serves as a tool for persecution, creating a perfect hunting ground for religious minorities. In this context, the actions of Prem Kolhi shine as a beacon of humanity against a backdrop of systemic injustice.

The arrest of Jamshed Khan, a member of the Bannu Aman Jirga, has ignited widespread protests among local police and citizens, highlighting the deep-seated discontent with the Paki establishment and its heavy-handed tactics. The Lucky Marwat Police joined the protests, expressing solidarity in front of Bannu Police with a raucous demonstration that included dancing amid rising dust, a symbolic gesture of defiance against the occupied-authorities.

Jamshed Khan, who was detained in the Bannu police line, was a vocal participant in recent police protests and had previously faced suspension for his activism. His abduction on September 20, by the Cantt Police Station’s Station House Officer (SHO) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has sparked outrage, leading to a blockade of the Bannu-Miranshah road by protesters demanding his immediate release.

The local police have begun coordinating with forces from other districts to expand the protests across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a broader uprising against the establishment’s oppressive tactics. Furthermore, 11 police officials were fired for disobeying orders exacerbating tensions. Recently, the Pak Army filed an FIR against PTM Chief Manzoor Pashteen ahead of the upcoming Pashtun gatherings.

The recent turmoil underscores the escalating frustration of the Pashtun people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who are marginalized and exploited by the Punjabi elite and the military establishment. Tired of decades of systemic neglect and violence, Pashtuns are rising to demand accountability and justice. The upcoming national gathering of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) on October 11 is poised to be a pivotal event, aiming to shed light on the human rights abuses faced by the community and to call for international attention to their plight.

Since the military’s occupation of the Khyber region in 1947, the Punjabi-Pakistan Army has executed a brutal campaign against the Pashtun population. Masked as counter-terrorism operations, these actions have included indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, extrajudicial killings, and abductions, leaving communities shattered and traumatized. The military has treated the Pashtun people as mere collateral damage in its quest for control, perpetuating a cycle of violence that has gone unchecked for far too long.

A radical extremist mob gathered outside the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Islamiya Park, Lahore, as a mob lynching unfolds. Despite police presence, authorities have turned a blind eye to the attack.

The ongoing violence against the Ahmadiyya community, which is classified as non-Muslim by Pakistan’s constitution, underscores the systemic persecution and hate crimes faced by religious minorities in the country. These incidents highlight the precarious and dangerous environment that minority groups endure.

In a recent act of aggression, Pak Army backed-Punjab police conducted a raid on an Ahmadi place of worship. Authorities not only destroyed the minarets but also defaced the Kalima, a sacred Islamic inscription.

This brazen vandalism reflects a broader campaign to marginalize and terrorize the Ahmadi community. This institutionalized persecution by the Paki establishment effectively disenfranchises them.

The failure of Pakistan to intervene and protect its citizens is a grave indictment of its governance. The authorities’ complicity in the ongoing violence reveals a troubling disregard for the safety and rights of religious minorities. In this Islamic Republic, even Muslims are not safe.

An improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a police vehicle escorting a group of 24 diplomats and their families during an official visit to Swat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack claimed the life of one police officer and injured three others. The diplomats, who were unharmed in the blast, were on a visit arranged by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in collaboration with the Swat Chamber of Commerce.

Among the diplomats present were high-ranking officials from countries including Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe, Turkmenistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Russia. Notably, Russian Ambassador Albert Khorev, who was part of the group, was reported safe but visibly shaken by the explosion.

Deputy Inspector General of Malakand Division, Muhammad Ali Gandapur, confirmed that the explosion was caused by a remote-controlled IED. “The attack targeted the police; no foreigners were hurt,” he said.

Diplomatic security arrangements have come under scrutiny following the attack, with senior officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pointing to a potential lapse in protocol. According to these officials, the ICCI directly coordinated with Malakand Police, bypassing the senior provincial authorities in Peshawar responsible for overseeing diplomatic engagements. Despite these concerns, the foreign office had provided the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the mission.

IED Attack on Diplomatic Convoy

The diplomats had arrived in Swat on September 22, as part of a two-day schedule that included visits to local cultural sites, lunch at the White Palace, and a stay at Pearl Continental Malam Jaba Ski Resort. Swat police had deployed 36 officers to ensure the delegation’s security, with police teams and bomb disposal units sweeping the routes. However, despite these measures, the IED attack occurred.

Diplomatic sources revealed that Turkey and Spain had declined to participate in the visit, citing security concerns. While no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, Swat and the Malakand division have seen an increase in violent assaults, primarily targeting law enforcement. Most attacks in the region have been attributed to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist group that has been active in the area since the breakdown of peace talks, leading to widespread unrest.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa occupied government had recently lifted the NOC requirement for foreign tourists in January 2024, but the region remains a hotspot for the Pakistan Army’s inbred terrorists, now turned rogue, with TTP terror attacks defying all security protocols.

This attack showcases how inefficient the Punjabi Pak Army is in its inability to curtail terrorists attacks, while it uses all its might to suppress innocent Pashtuns by abducting and extrajudicially killing them.