The provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where the Pashtun and Baloch communities reside, have a long history of protesting against being treated unfairly. For years, these protests have largely been ignored, but now more educated middle-class youth and professionals are joining in, contributing to both peaceful and violent demonstrations.

In just a single week, several significant events unfolded. The Pakistani government imposed a ban on an organization, with the provincial government where the group is most active supporting the decision. Yet, shortly after, the same government allowed the banned organization to hold a large, three-day gathering, or jirga—a traditional community council that has existed for centuries. Not only did the provincial government facilitate the event, but it also sent its chief minister to attend the gathering organized by the previously banned group.