34 Baloch Protesters Released After Successful Negotiations

On Thursday, the interim federal government released 34 Baloch protesters who had been arrested during a crackdown on a demonstration in Islamabad. The release was carried out based on the recommendation of a committee established by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar for negotiations. The protesters had been advocating an end to enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings.

The use of force by Islamabad police to disperse and detain the demonstrators had elicited widespread condemnation from various quarters, including human rights organizations, politicians, the Islamabad High Court (IHC), and high-ranking officials such as President Dr Arif Alvi and PM Kakar.

Read more : Federal Police Release Baloch Protesters, Sparking Public Outcry

All the detained Baloch protesters were officially released, according to a statement. The committee, comprised of Caretaker Privatization 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, engaged in talks with the protesters.

During negotiations, the protesters demanded the immediate release of those arrested. On the first day of talks, the committee had already ordered the prompt release of arrested women and children.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) initiated a long march to Islamabad in protest against the alleged extrajudicial killing of Balach Baloch. The protesters accused the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of unfairly labeling Balach as a terrorist and carrying out his killing.

The CTD vehemently denied these accusations, asserting that the incident resulted from an armed clash between “miscreants” and security forces in the Pasni road area of Turbat.

Currently encamped outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, the BYC is protesting against what they perceive as “extra-judicial abductions” of the Baloch people. A delegation from the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) visited their camp to express support. SCBA President Shahzad Shaukat assured the protesters that they would advocate for the superior judiciary’s involvement in the recovery of missing Baloch individuals. Relatives of the missing persons appealed to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa for justice, detailing the hardships faced by their families. They requested the delegation to convey their message to CJP Isa.