BHC expresses shock over the arrest of political activists

Petitioner claimed that the government had used force against what were allegedly peaceful protestors.

The arrests of political activists in the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan shocked the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Thursday. The chief secretary of Balochistan, the secretary of the interior, the inspector general of police, and the deputy commissioners of Gwadar and Turbat were all given notice-giving orders by the court.

On a constitutional petition submitted by veteran attorney Rahib Buledi on behalf of the Gwadar Rights Movement, the court made this ruling (GRM). Justices Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar and Shaukat Rakhshani, who make up the division bench of the BHC, voiced unhappiness over the recent arrests of political workers in Gwadar.

Advocate General of Balochistan, Asif Reki Advocate informed the court that the protesters had caused damages to public and private properties in Gwadar. He said police and the administration had not detained any innocent persons in Gwadar.

However, Rahib Buledi in his petition accused the administration of using force against what he claimed peaceful protesters. He said without any justification police raided the homes of activists and picked them up without any arrest warrants. The bench ordered issuing notices to all concerned authorities in this regard and adjourned the hearing for ten days.

In the meantime, internet service was restored in Gwadar after ten days. The spokesperson government of Balochistan in a statement said that the service has been restored on the instructions of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Quddus Bizenjo. She said the government was aware about the difficulties of the residents of Gwadar.

Following days of rallies and violence between protestors and police, normalcy also restored to the port city.