Undeterred, Baloch women to hold sit-in

Location and time will be disclosed later for future actions, say activists

ISLAMABAD:

In response to the recent crackdown by Islamabad police on Baloch demonstrators protesting against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings, Baloch women on Friday said they were resolute in their cause.

Despite the use of force by authorities to disperse and detain demonstrators, the protestors – most of whom are women – have said that they are staying put in the capital and will hold a sit-in in the federal capital.

Having arrived from various regions of Balochistan for a long march to highlight their grievances, these women were released from police custody on Thursday.

However, they have announced their intent to stage a sit-in until their demands are met.

Gulzadi, a participant in the march, shared with The Express Tribune that their leader, Dr Mahrang Baloch, was also released from police custody on Thursday night. "We're currently staying in Islamabad temporarily and plan to confer with our leadership soon to chart our next steps," she added.

Details regarding the specific location and time for future actions will be disclosed later.She claimed that over 150 men involved in their march had been apprehended by the authorities. Among the 57 women still present, some are elderly, and a few have six children accompanying them.

“Our primary demand is the immediate release of our detained comrades and an end to the arbitrary arrest of more youths.”
A day earlier on Thursday, the Islamabad police employed brutal force against Baloch demonstrators protesting enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in Balochistan. Over 200 protesters were detained, and subjected to tear gas, water cannons, and police batons.

Human rights organisations, politicians, and analysts strongly condemned these actions. By evening, the government claimed that 90% of the detained Baloch individuals had been released, excluding those "unidentified" by the police.
However, during a petition seeking the release of the detained protesters, it was revealed that over 50 Baloch women protesters were reported missing after the police action.

The protestors were represented by lawyers Ataullah Kundi and Imaan Mazari among others.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Khuzdar, Naal and Wadh town, a protest sit-in was staged and rallies were taken out in Quetta and different areas of Balochistan against the police treatment and arrests of participants of Turbat long march in Islamabad.

IHC proceedings

Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday inquired of the capital's police chief why the Baloch protesters, who faced harsh police action a day earlier, were being forcefully sent back to Quetta.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq while hearing a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention and their right to protest questioned why these individuals were being forced to go back home after the police crackdown.

"They can stay in Islamabad, protest, or go back home. The choice is theirs," the chief high court judge observed while addressing Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir.

During the hearing, the court directed the representatives of the protesters and their counsels to approach the Islamabad SSP (Investigation) to record their version and requested a report from the police.

Detailing the police's 'highhandedness', Kundi said that the protestors were bundled into buses to be sent 'back home', on the purported orders of the prime minister.

Expressing displeasure over the police's actions, the IHC CJ asked who was present in court to represent the police. A police officer presented himself. Irked by the representative not being the Islamabad IG, Chief Justice Farooq summoned the police chief in half an hour.

Later, appearing before the court, IG Nasir said that he had arranged for the transport of protestors.

Justice Farooq took exception to the police chief's statement, again stressing that the protestors could stay wherever they wanted. He then asked the IG where the protestors were being kept.

At this, IG Nasir informed the court that the women were staying at a hostel in I-10.

At this point, Kundi informed the court of the IG miscommunicating the release and whereabouts of the protestors a day earlier.The court instructed the police chief to oversee the matter and inform the counsels of the detainees' whereabouts, release women at the I-10 hostel, and stated that a detailed order would follow.

The next hearing will be conducted by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb.

A day earlier, the IHC Chief Justice had warned the Islamabad police chief against creating any hindrance in the protest, observing that the marchers had the constitutional right to stage a demonstration.

Later, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar formed a three-member committee comprising federal ministers for negotiations with the BYC representatives.PM, president express concerns

President Dr Arif Alvi and Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday held a telephonic conversation wherein they expressed concern over the inappropriate police treatment of the Baloch protestors.

Discussing the situation, both the president and prime minister viewed that the police should not have dealt with the protestors strictly, a President House press release said.

During the conversation, the prime minister told the president that the detained protestors were being released on personal bonds.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar also called on President Alvi and discussed the overall situation in Balochistan province as well as police maltreatment against the Baloch protestors.

The governor viewed that the police should show restraint towards the protestors.

In the meeting, the two sides believed that the police should not have acted beyond their limits and powers. Both leaders emphasised the measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan.