The recent Swat peace rally, held with full state facilitation and public participation, was meant to be a celebration of the valley’s hard-earned stability and a reaffirmation of the people’s commitment to peace after years of brutal militancy. Yet, instead of recognizing the significance of this event, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) once again resorted to malicious propaganda — distorting facts, vilifying Pakistan’s security forces, and attempting to hijack a unifying moment to serve its divisive agenda.
PTM’s social media platforms propagated a baseless claim: that following the rally, Pakistan’s Army harassed PTM activists and continued so-called “colonial repression” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This narrative is not only false but also deeply dangerous. It attempts to erase the sacrifices of over 94,000 martyrs who laid down their lives to restore peace in Swat and across Pakistan. It also shifts focus away from the real threat — Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — which continues to target schools, mosques, and innocent civilians.
The truth is that the Swat peace rally was conducted peacefully, under full protection provided by the state and security forces. There were no incidents of violence, no suppression of rights, and no crackdown on peaceful protest. Instead, the rally demonstrated the commitment of the state — particularly the Pakistan Army — to ensure that Swat never again falls into the grip of terrorists who once ruled the valley through fear and bloodshed. PTM’s claim of post-rally harassment is not only fabricated but a deliberate attempt to discredit this success and portray the state as the enemy.
What PTM is doing is neither new nor accidental. By shifting the blame from the TTP — the group responsible for some of the worst atrocities in Pakistan’s history — onto the state, PTM is indirectly shielding terrorists. Every time peace is restored and the people of Swat take steps toward reconciliation and normalcy, PTM attempts to hijack the narrative by portraying state institutions as oppressive.
The people of Swat have not forgotten who destroyed their markets, bombed their schools, and slaughtered their elders. They know it was TTP militants, not the Pakistani state, who turned their valley into a graveyard. It was the Pakistan Army, alongside local law enforcement and brave civilians, that fought a long and costly battle to liberate Swat from this tyranny. Over 94,000 Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism — soldiers, policemen, teachers, students, and civilians alike. PTM’s narrative, which seeks to vilify the very forces that made peace possible, insults their memory and undermines their sacrifice.
PTM claims to speak for Pashtun rights, but its actions suggest otherwise. By using the Swat rally — a symbol of peace and resilience — to attack the state, PTM is fueling mistrust and division. Instead of contributing to dialogue and development, it sows hatred and resentment, weakening national unity at a time when solidarity is most needed.
PTM’s propaganda also distracts from the ongoing threat posed by the TTP. While PTM attacks the state, terrorists continue their campaign of violence, targeting mosques, schools, and public gatherings. Instead of condemning these atrocities unequivocally, PTM chooses to malign the institutions that protect citizens from such threats. This silence — or worse, deflection — raises serious questions about PTM’s true loyalties and objectives.
The blood of 94,000 martyrs — soldiers, policemen, and civilians — runs through the soil of Swat and the wider Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. Their sacrifices made possible the peace that PTM now takes for granted. By spreading lies that portray these sacrifices as oppression, PTM dishonors their memory and emboldens the very terrorists they fought against. Moreover, PTM’s repeated attempts to delegitimize the state echo the strategies of hostile foreign agencies that seek to weaken Pakistan by exploiting internal grievances. Linking peaceful rallies, community events, and genuine local demands to false narratives of repression is not activism — it is sabotage.
PTM’s attempts to weaponize the Swat peace rally for anti-state propaganda reveal the movement’s true character: it is less about protecting rights and more about attacking the state under the guise of activism. By spreading falsehoods and deflecting blame from terrorists, PTM is not only weakening Pakistan’s fight against extremism but also betraying the very communities it claims to represent. The people of Swat have suffered enough. They deserve peace built on truth, not chaos fueled by lies. The state’s commitment to securing the valley remains firm — but it is equally vital that civil society and political actors reject the toxic narratives that embolden terrorists and undermine national unity. PTM’s propaganda may seek to drag Swat back into darkness, but the people’s resilience and the sacrifices of Pakistan’s martyrs will ensure that peace prevails over propaganda, and truth triumphs over terror.