Karachi police rearrested Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Sammi Deen Baloch on Tuesday, shortly after a judicial magistrate ordered her release along with several others. The rearrest occurred on the court premises following their earlier detention on charges of violating Section 144.
On Monday, Karachi police had detained Sammi and others for defying Section 144 and forcibly dispersing their protest. The BYC had organized the demonstration to oppose the arrest of its leadership in Balochistan.
Upon the court’s order for their release, police attempted to rearrest Sammi, resulting in resistance from lawyers present at the court. The authorities subsequently detained her and shifted her to jail for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance.
The Sindh Home Department stated that the decision to rearrest Sammi was made based on a recommendation from the Inspector General of Sindh, citing security concerns. Police officials accused Sammi and her fellow activists, including Abdul Wahab Baloch, Raza Ali, and others, of inciting road blockages and sit-ins that could disrupt law and order in the city. They further claimed that the presence of these individuals in public posed a threat to peace and stability.
Sammi’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, confirmed that the judicial magistrate had discharged all five accused in the FIR registered the previous day. In a post on X, Nasir explained, “As soon as the accused were discharged and ordered to be released, the police started waving the MPO order. While Sammi surrendered and willfully gave her arrest, the whereabouts of four others—Lala Wahab, Raziq, Sultan, and Shahdad—are unknown.”
The BYC had previously announced plans to protest at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the “illegal detention” of their leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch. Dr. Mahrang and 16 others were arrested in Quetta on Saturday, following allegations that police had beaten three of their protestors to death during an anti-riot action.
