Is Balochistan essential to Pakistan?

[The Bald Eagle]

Why are Baloch protesters being forcefully sent back, IHC asks police chief

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday inquired why Baloch protesters in the federal capital, who were subjected to brutal police action a day earlier, were being “forcefully” sent back to their province.

“They can stay in Islamabad, protest or go back home. The choice is theirs,” remarked IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq on a petition filed by Baloch protesters against unlawful detention.

On Wednesday night, the Islamabad police used brutal force to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators who had converged on the capital to protest against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings in their province. More than 200 protesters were taken into custody from different areas of Islamabad. The demonstrators were also met with tear gas, water canons and police batons.

However, later these students were released, Kundi said. “Seeing all this, the drivers of the buses refused to move. During all this, the Islamabad police chief reached the police station and said these people should be sent back anyhow,” he told the court, adding that the gates of the police station were later closed.

At 5am, the police issued a statement that protesters had been safely sent back home, the lawyer pointed out.

At that, the court inquired who had appeared in court to represent the police to which a police officer came forth. However, Justice Farooq expressed displeasure and summoned IG Akbar Nasir in half an hour.

Appearing before the court, the police chief said he had arranged for the transport of the protesters.

“Wait a moment … where did you take them? Why did you send them? They could have stayed in Islamabad wherever they wanted to,” the judge stressed. “Whether they stay in Islamabad, protest or go home. It is their choice,” he remarked.

Justice Farooq further inquired where the detained protesters were staying, to which the IG replied the arrested women were staying at a hostel in I-10 sector.

“Tell the counsels where they are,” the court instructed the police chief.

Here, Kundi pointed out that the IG had miscommunicated in court yesterday that there were no women in police custody and demanded that contempt proceedings be initiated against him.

For his part, the police chief claimed the detained women protesters were provided with transport facilities to go wherever they wanted to.

When asked how many protesters were in police custody, the IG replied that 216 Baloch men and women were at the Kohsar police station of which some had been sent on judicial remand. Out of these, 19 women were released, he added.

Protesters at the Tarnol police station were released by the local magistrate while 162 detainees were sent on judicial remand, said IG Nasir.

The court also asked about the number of women who were sent home, those released and the ones staying at the hostel. It also directed the police chief to arrange a meeting of the women with their counsels.

“You have to convince them that not one person is missing,” Justice Farooq emphasised.

At one point during the hearing, journalist Hamid Mir appeared in court. He said that during a press conference yesterday, a trio of caretaker ministers — Fawad Hassan Fawad, Murtaza Solangi, and Jamal Nasir — had said all the protesters were released.

“But we found out that none of them were released. I went to the police station to check myself,” he said. “Women and children were being forcefully dragged and pushed into buses outside the Women Police Station.”

Mir said he had also reached out to Fawad over the matter. “A little girl came to me and kept saying she didn’t want to go back,” he recalled. “But when I reached out to the police, they cursed at me and snatched my mobile phone,” the journalist said.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Butt of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said the women were being filled into buses “like sheep” and highlighted that protests were a constitutional right of every person in a democracy.

Source : Dawn News

 

[FearlessRoar]

Pakistan police arrested hundreds of protesters who marched on the capital Islamabad on Thursday to denounce forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the military-controlled southwestern province of Balochistan.

Police fired water cannon and used batons to disperse dozens of women activists, including protest leader Mahrang Baloch who was among those arrested, in an overnight crackdown in Islamabad.

Nearly 200 protesters took part in the 1,600km (1,000-mile) convoy in protest against what they described as the “genocide” of the Baloch minority, seeking answers from the government over the death of Balaach Mola Bakhsh.

The 24-year-old died in police custody in Balochistan in November. His relatives have alleged that the man was shot dead while in custody.

Prominent activist Ms Baloch took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and said she was arrested by the Islamabad police. “While we are all legally free, we appeal to the public to stand up against the oppression of this fascist state,” she said.

Late on Thursday, caretaker minister of information Murtaza Solangi said that the government had started releasing most of the rally protesters, including women and children, adding that the rest would be freed once police have finished their investigations.

Mr Solangi said the government would consider the protesters’ demands. “Those who had not been identified would be freed on Friday after the completion of an inquiry being conducted on the directives of the Islamabad High Court,” he said in a joint statement with other ministers.

The protesters’ convoy of vehicles reached Islamabad at dawn on Thursday and were stopped by the police, who asked them to turn around. On refusal from the protesters, the police resorted to force and started beating dozens of activists.

"28th day of the movement against Baloch Genocide; the detained females have been released at last after 26 hours of humiliation, harassment and torture from Islamabad Police,” said Baloch Yakjehti Committee said in a social media post.

It added that 162 male protestors have been shifted to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi and more than 50 males are detained across different police stations in Islamabad.

“We request and appeal to the Baloch nation to continue their protests against the inhumane treatment of protesters in Islamabad and stand up against this treatment of Baloch nation and raise their voice in each and every possible way for those detained friends, who had the courage to speak and stand against the mass genocide of Baloch nation,” it said on Friday morning.

According to police officials, Bakhsh was carrying explosives at the time of his arrest in November but died two days later when militants ambushed a police van that was transporting him.

However, activists have said that the young man died in a staged counterterrorism operation and that the Pakistan police were holding him since they arrested him in October.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan condemned the “violent police crackdown on Baloch protesters in Islamabad” where it said women, children and older people were subjected to unwarranted force in the form of water cannon and batons.

“Numerous women protesters have reportedly been arrested and separated from their male relatives and allies,” the statement said. It said the rallygoers were denied their constitutional right to peacefully protest.

The commission demanded an immediate release of the detainees and sought an apology from the government.

Source: The Independent

 

[shortbread]

Solutions can be found through social and political means, but this is not what the establishment is trained in or has experience handling. At least hold elections in the western provinces and let them choose their leader. Provide them the funds and let the elected government find solutions.

 

[Bewal Express]

Our 2nd greatest philanthropist, our greatest Sportsman is locked up charges so pathetic that any court worth its salt would throw them out in a day.

 

[Hassan A]

Our 2nd greatest philanthropist, our greatest Sportsman is locked up charges so pathetic that any court worth its salt would throw them out in a day.

Btw, who’s the first philantropist?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Govt claims 290 Baloch protesters released from jail, police custody

The caretaker government on Monday claimed that 290 Baloch protesters — who were arrested during a demonstration in Islamabad against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings — had been released from jail and police custody.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the interior ministry said the decision was taken in light of the negotiations held between the Baloch demonstrators and a cabinet committee.

The Baloch protest march — which started in Turbat on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Baloch youth by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel — had reached the federal capital last week.

However, they were met with brutal force and more than 200 protesters were taken into custody by the Islamabad police. In light of the crackdown, the march led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) had converted into a sit-in outside the National Press Club.

On Saturday, the BYC had given a three-day ultimatum to the government to quash the cases registered against students and activists and release all of the protesters. The following day, the Islamabad police announced it was releasing all the detained protesters after their bail was approved.

The police had also set up a “special help centre” for the release of the incarcerated individuals.

In its statement issued today, the interior ministry confirmed the release of 290 detained protesters. “Peaceful protests are the right of every citizen but no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands,” it said.

It added that the security of the Red Zone had been ensured in every way as it houses the Diplomatic Enclave and other constitutional bodies. The special help centre set up by the police has completed its job, the ministry said.

Over 100 Baloch protesters in custody
Meanwhile, in a social media post on Sunday night, the BYC said only 160 protesters had been released until now and over 100 were still in police custody or “missing”.

It said the Islamabad police had not provided correct information to the protesters and the media, adding that Dr Zaheer Baloch, one of the detained protesters, was still missing.

“We are concerned about his life,” the committee added.

Separately, Dr Mahrang Baloch, one of the march organisers, demanded the release of all the protesters “or otherwise we will be forced to take hard steps”.

Source : Dawn News