Our Struggle

Khar Qamar Massacre – A Tragic and Bloody Chapter of Pakistani Military Brutality

The Khar Qamar Massacre, which occurred on May 26, 2019, in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtonkhwa, was a tragic incident in which the Pakistan Army opened fire on a peaceful, unarmed protest led by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), killing at least 16 civilians and injuring many others. The protest, organized by PTM leaders Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, aimed to condemn military abuses against local Pashtuns. This brutal act is seen as part of a larger pattern of state oppression, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and suppression of dissent. Following the massacre, a media blackout and arrests of PTM leaders highlighted the military's attempts to silence opposition, sparking outrage among human rights groups and fueling the Pashtun community’s calls for justice and accountability.