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The tale of two Pakistans
The struggle for Pashtun civil rights emerged from mass protests in 2018 against police killings and state repression. The Pashtuns are the largest single ethnic minority of Pakistan at over 16 per cent of the population. MANZOOR PASHTEEN reports
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES: Manzoor Pashteen, the author of the article, at a rally in Lahore

THE first overthrow of a civilian government in Pakistan took place as early as August 22 1947, with the country just a few days old.

The dismissal of Dr Khan Sahib’s popularly elected North West Frontier Province government — today’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — paved the way for military dictatorships that followed.

This early political failure shows why a sense of historical perspective is needed to make a different Pakistan today.

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