The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) led a long march from Turbat, reaching the DI Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, attracting hundreds of participants.
The march to Islamabad, spearheaded by young Baloch activist Meh Rang Baloch, notably includes a substantial number of women and girls.
Amid heightened security provided by a significant police presence, participants voiced their concerns over the forced disappearances of Baloch youth.
They called for stringent action against officials from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) allegedly involved in the extrajudicial killing of Balach Baloch. Family members of the deceased are actively participating in the BYC march.
Meh Rang Baloch expressed outrage at the perceived branding of Baloch youth as terrorists, leading to their alleged unlawful killings in encounters with the police and CTD.
She affirmed that the long march will persist until accountability is enforced against those CTD officials responsible for the daylight murder of innocent youth.
Read Baloch marchers stopped from entering Islamabad
A convoy of passenger vehicles, adorned with images of missing Baloch youth, is accompanying the march. Local residents welcomed the participants, showering them with rose petals. The march is en route to Islamabad, where a planned sit-in is expected.
However, tensions arose on December 18, as relatives of missing individuals detained during a CTD operation in Turbat entered Punjab. The police arrested 10 men and briefly detained several women, likely leading to charges for violating Section 144.
Earlier, at the Sakhi Sarwar checkpoint, where participants were assembling, police attempted to halt the march, met with resistance. Several men and women were taken into custody, with women subsequently released. However, detained men, including Hafiz Jameel Leghari, Shaukat Ali, Asif Leghari, Meraj Leghari, and Abdullah Saleh, may face charges for violating Section 144.
City ASP Rehmatullah Durrani informed protesters about the enforcement of Section 144, emphasizing restrictions on organizing processions or rallies.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2023.
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