PTM Lawmakers Remain Seated During National Anthem at KP Peace Jirga — Symbolic Protest or Act of Defiance
**ISLAMABAD (Qudrat Daily)** — A controversy erupted during the **Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Jirga** when all participants stood in respect as the **national anthem** was played — except for **Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM)** leaders **Noorullah Tareen** and **Hanif Pashteen**, who remained seated.
The incident drew widespread attention on social media and in political circles after senior journalist **Haroon Rashid** highlighted it in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling the act “a reflection of an anti-state agenda.”
خیبر پختونخوا امن جرگے میں تمام شرکاء قومی ترانے کے احترام میں کھڑے ہوئے مگر پی ٹی ایم کے ارکان اپنی نشستوں پر بیٹھے رہے.
قومی ترانے کیلئے کھڑے نہ ہونا ملک دشمن ایجنڈے کی عکاسی کرتا ہے.pic.twitter.com/9pKyZqTT6C
— Haroon ul Rasheed (@Haroonn_natamam) November 12, 2025
The gesture quickly became a subject of national debate. Analysts and political commentators described standing during the national anthem as a **symbol of unity, respect, and allegiance to the state**, while remaining seated was seen by some as an **unnecessary political statement** that could harm national cohesion.
One social media user wrote, “In the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, every member stood in respect for the national anthem, yet PTM members chose to remain seated. The anthem represents the sacrifices of our martyrs — those who can’t respect it have no right to sit in Parliament.”
The incident has reignited discussions over PTM’s political stance and its often tense relationship with state institutions, raising questions about the **boundaries between political expression and national loyalty**.
