Dozens rounded up after protesters clash with police

Demonstrators warn of rallies across Balochistan if demands not accepted

QUETTA: Dozens of protesters were briefly arrested by police on Wednesday after students and employees of Bolan University of Medical and Health Sciences staged a sit-in outside Balochistan Assembly and clashed with the police on GPO Chowk.

The detained protesters, who were later released by the police, suspended traffic and slammed Balochistan Chief Minister and Vice Chancellor BUMHS Dr Naqibullah, demanding the restoration of Bolan Medical University, reduction of fees and dismissal of the VC.

During the sit-in, the clash incited crackdown from the police who also tried to arrest the female students.

According to All Pakistan Clerks’ Association (APCA) Balochistan, protest rallies will be held across Balochistan on February 13 and 14 against the arrest of their provincial president and other employees.

Senior Vice President of All Pakistan Clerks Association Balochistan Younis Kakar, President PMA Quetta district Dr Rahim Bugti, Sabiha Baloch and others during an emergency press conference at Quetta Press Club on Wednesday evening said that the APCA BMC unit was demonstrating for the last 56 days but their issues had not been resolved, hence a protest call was given for Wednesday.

When the employees arrived in Quetta Metropolitan to protest, the rally was not allowed to enter and was forcibly prevented from going to the Balochistan Assembly, they said, adding that the employees reached the Balochistan Assembly and staged a peaceful sit-in in favour of their demands.

President of APCA Dad Mohammad Baloch, Provincial Secretary General Abdullah Khan Safi, President of the Baloch Students Action Committee and others were arrested and locked up in various police stations.

The activists condemned the incident, warning to boycott the government affairs in Balochistan on February 13 and 14. They warned of holding protest rallies on the main squares of all district headquarters in Balochistan on February 17 as well.

Students attending the sit-in said that they were protesting peacefully in favour of their demands, however, instead of providing security to them, the police took an inappropriate step and arrested several accomplices and took them into custody.

After being removed by the police, the female students reached the press club and resumed their sit-in.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2020.