ISLAMABAD: Baloch protesters issued a call for a nationwide shutter down demonstration set for Wednesday (January 3), condemning state authorities’ attempts to undermine the Baloch long march and sit-in in Islamabad as mere propaganda.
Expressing disappointment with the government’s lack of genuine commitment toward their demands, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, the protest’s organizer advocating an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, conveyed their stance through social media.
“On Jan 3, we are rallying for a nationwide shutterdown protest in Pakistan. We urge individuals from all spheres of life to support and honor our call for this strike, upholding humanity and the preservation of Baloch identity,” the committee stated.
On January 3rd, our ultimatum will expire. The State has consistently shown a half-hearted and uncommitted concern regarding our demands from the beginning. Furthermore, despite the seriousness of the Baloch Genocide issue, State officials are attempting to justify it by labeling… pic.twitter.com/oGrbgaoNNH
— Baloch Yakjahti Committee – Kech (@BYCKech) January 1, 2024
Having encamped outside the National Press Club for over a week, Baloch protesters had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government on December 28, seeking fulfillment of various demands. These include the release of detained protesters, thorough investigation into rights violations in Balochistan, eradication of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, freedom for all victims of enforced disappearances, constraints on the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and abolishment of “state-sponsored death squads.”
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a protest organizer, highlighted in a social media video that the protest march ensued following the alleged custodial killing of a Baloch youth by the CTD.
“Our movement stands against the decade-long enforced disappearances and unlawful killings of innocent citizens in Balochistan,” she asserted, underlining widespread support within the province for the protest.
Dr. Mahrang decried the use of force by Islamabad police to disrupt the long march and the filing of multiple “fake” first information reports against protesters nationwide. She accused the administration of persistently disregarding their concerns regarding what she labeled as a policy of Baloch genocide.
Pointing out the recent forced disappearances of over 20 Baloch youths, Dr. Mahrang demanded the presentation of all those held illegally before courts, ensuring their right to a fair trial.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
