Govt releases 34 more Baloch protesters following negotiations

All the arrested Baloch protesters have been released, claims statement

ISLAMABAD:

The interim federal government on Thursday released 34 more arrested Baloch protesters on the recommendation of the committee established on the instructions of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar for negotiations.

The protesters were taken into custody during a crackdown on demonstration demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in Islamabad.

The Islamabad police's use of force to disperse and detain the demonstrators had drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organisations, politicians, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), and even the highest offices, including President Dr Arif Alvi and PM Kakar.

Also read: Govt claims releasing all 290 Baloch protesters

According to an official statement, all the arrested Baloch protesters have been released. The committee members Caretaker Privatisation Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad, Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and Caretaker Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah along with Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Kakar, held talks with the protesters.

During the negotiations, the protesters demanded immediate release of the arrested persons. On the first day of the talks, the committee had issued orders for the immediate release of the arrested women and children. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) kicked off its long march to Islamabad against the alleged extrajudicial killing of Balach Baloch.

The protesters accuse the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of unjustly branding Balach a terrorist and carrying out his cold-blooded killing. The CTD vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that the incident resulted from an armed clash between "miscreants" and security forces in the Pasni road area of Turbat.

Read more: Don’t treat Baloch protesters as ‘enemies’

The BYC is currently encamped outside the National Press Club in Islamabad to protest against the movement against the “extra-judicial abductions” of the Baloch people.

On Wednesday, a delegation of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) visited their camp outside the National Press Club. SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat assured the protesters that they would persuade the superior judiciary to play its role in the recovery of the missing Baloch people.

The relatives of the missing persons, while speaking with the delegation, appealed to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa for justice. The protesters informed the delegation about the sufferings of their families and asked it to convey their message to CJP Isa.

With input from News Desk