Sanna Ejaz
Sanna Ejaz (Pashto: ثنا اعجاز) or Sana Ijaz, is a journalist and human rights activist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. She is a leading member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), as well as a founding member of the Waak Movement, which aims to bring political awareness among Pashtun women.[2] She focuses on advocacy to promote women's role in peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social activism.[3] She was formerly the vice-president of the youth wing of Awami National Party (ANP).[4]
Sanna Ejaz | |
|---|---|
ثنا اعجاز | |
| Education | University of Peshawar Plymouth State University, United States[1] |
| Occupation | human rights activist |
| Movement | Pashtun Tahafuz Movement |
Career and social activism
Sanna worked as an anchor and host at the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) for two and a half years. However, she was fired from her job on 9 May 2018 because of her activism at PTM.[5][6] In late 2018, she also lost her job at a nongovernmental advocacy organization, Shirkat Gah.[7] Regarding her association with PTM, she said: "I was not doing anything wrong by supporting a peaceful demand for justice, for constitutional rights, and for peace. I will not back down."[8]
On 9 February 2020, just before PTM's public gathering in Loralai, Balochistan to mark the first death anniversary of Arman Loni, security forces arrested Sanna Ejaz, Wranga Loni, Arfa Siddiq, and other female PTM activists as they were on their way to the gathering site. The security forces released them, however, when political activists gathered outside the police station to protest for them.[9][10]
See also
References
- ^ Sanna Ejaz - LinkedIn Profile.
- ^ "Pakhtun women pledge to struggle for their rights". Dawn. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Why female Pashtun activists matter for PTM". Asia Times. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Women Of The Pashtun Protection Movement 'Won't Back Down'". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Malik, Rabia (10 May 2018). "PTV fires anchor Sanna Ejaz over 'PTM activism'". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "PTV terminates anchor Sana Ejaz 'on association with PTM'". Daily Times. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Threats To Woman Activist Prompt Protest, Police Probe". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ Jalalzai, Freshta (29 March 2019). "Female Activists Chart New Course In Pakistan's Conservative Pashtun Belt". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
- ^ "PTM Leaders Arrested In Loralai, Balochistan Ahead Of Public Meeting". Naya Daur. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
- ^ "پی ٹی ایم کے خواتین کارکنان زیرحراست رہنے کے بعد رہا". Daily Shahbaz (in Urdu). 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
External links
- "The Year of Shrinking Freedoms", article by Rabia Mehmood, South Asia Regional Researcher, Amnesty International, 13 December 2018.