Dozens of protesters have staged a demonstration in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar to condemn an assassination attempt on Fazal Khan, an ethnic Pashtun rights activist.
Khan has been a vocal critic of both the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group and Pakistani authorities, which he accuses of turning a blind eye to militants.
Khan, a lawyer, told police that he was on his way home from the Peshawar High Court on July 21 when two motorcyclists opened fire on him. Khan said he got away unharmed.
Protesters on July 22 urged the government to protect citizens from militant groups.
Khan lost his son in a Peshawar school massacre carried out by TTP militants in 2014 and has campaigned for justice for the nearly 150 students and teachers who were killed.
Khan is a member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), which defends the rights of Pashtuns, Pakistan’s largest ethnic minority.
The PTM has campaigned for civil rights for ethnic Pashtuns since 2018.
The group has attracted tens of thousands of people to public rallies to denounce the powerful Pakistani Army's heavy-handed operations in tribal regions impacted by militant operations and the military's alleged connection with Islamist militants.
International rights groups say authorities have banned peaceful rallies organized by the PTM and some of its leading members have been arbitrarily detained and prevented from traveling within the country. Some members have also faced charges for alleged sedition and cybercrimes.
Pakistani Protesters Condemn Assassination Attempt On Rights Activist
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Four Years On, UN Says Taliban Close To 'Erasing' Afghan Women From Public Life
2After Key Report On Afghanistan, State Department Says Taliban Was Keeping Aid
3Kabul's Quiet Resistance: Young Afghans Navigate Life Under The Taliban
4World Food Program Warns Of 'Unprecedented' Hunger Crisis In Afghanistan
5Bad Move: Taliban's Chess Ban Adds To Crackdown On Sports And Pastimes
6China Dangles Belt And Road Investment To Mend Taliban-Pakistan Ties
7Russia Boosts The Taliban's Quest For Legitimacy. Who Will Be Next?
8Taliban Restrictions Blamed For Surge In Suicides Among Afghans
9Death Toll Rises As Heavy Rains Devastate Northwestern Pakistan
10Pakistan Hit By More Fatal Flooding As Recovery Crews Look For Dead
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.