ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar have expressed concerns over the alleged mistreatment of Baloch protesters by Islamabad police, as stated by the President’s House in a released statement.
During a telephonic conversation, both officials conveyed that the police’s response to the protesters should not have been harsh. The Baloch protesters, who had embarked on a days-long march from Turbat, Balochistan, arrived in Islamabad on December 20 night.
They were reportedly halted on the city outskirts and instructed to relocate to a public park, with reports indicating that over 200 individuals were detained.
A day before the telephonic conversation, government officials held a press conference in Islamabad, stating that the Baloch protesters arrested on Wednesday night had been released.
Following the press conference, there were reports of the Islamabad Capital City police attempting to send the protesters back to Quetta in a private bus they had hired, leading to a reported confrontation between the protesters and the police.
In a recent development, the Islamabad High Court conducted a hearing on a petition seeking the release of the arrested protesters, filed by the long-march organizers Simi Baloch and Abdul Salam through their lawyers Imaan Mazari and Attaullah Kundi.
During the hearing, the court expressed displeasure over the appearance of junior police officers and ordered Islamabad Inspector General of Police Akbar Nisar to appear in court within half an hour.
Appearing before the court, IGP Akbar Nisar stated that 216 people were arrested, with 34 in judicial custody and one on physical remand, while 19 women were released.
The court directed the police to hand over the arrested protesters to the organizers and allowed them to engage in peaceful protests.
