Afghan Cultural Association and PTM Unite in Vienna Protest Against Pakistani Human Rights Abuses

Nearly 200 participants gathered outside the Pakistan Embassy in Vienna, organised by the Afghan Cultural Association and PTM Austria. They protested against extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses allegedly committed by the Pakistani government, especially targeting the Pashtun community.

On Sunday, a significant protest organised by the Afghan Cultural Association (AKIS) and the Austrian wing of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) took place outside the Pakistan Embassy in Vienna. The demonstration brought nearly 200 participants together to condemn extrajudicial killings and ongoing human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by the Pakistani government and military, particularly against the Pashtun community.

Protesters, gathered in front of the Pakistani Embassy, chanted slogans and delivered speeches denouncing the actions of Pakistani authorities. Notable figures from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including Noor Badshah, Noorullah Tareen, and Khairul Amin, were present and vocal in their criticism of the Pakistani establishment.

A poignant moment in the demonstration was a collective prayer in memory of Gelaman Wazir, a PTM leader allegedly killed by the Pakistani establishment. The protesters held the Pakistani Army and government responsible for Wazir's death, asserting that his blood was on their hands.

Participants carried banners and placards accusing the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Pakistan Army of fostering terrorist entities within Pakistan and scapegoating the Pashtun community to deflect blame. The demonstrators also highlighted the systematic targeting of ethnic minorities, including the Baloch and Pashtuns, by the predominantly Punjabi Pakistani military and authorities.

The protest in Vienna signifies the growing discontent within the Afghan and Pashtun diasporas over the treatment of their communities in Pakistan. The voices raised in Vienna form part of a broader call for justice and accountability, urging the international community to address the ongoing human rights violations in Pakistan.

(With inputs from agencies.)