Protests, roadblocks, and clashes between demonstrators and security forces persisted in Quetta, Gwadar, and other parts of Balochistan on Friday due to ongoing tensions between the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the provincial administration over a newly signed agreement.
Balochistan government officials asserted that numerous protesters and BYC supporters had been released as part of the agreement, shifting the responsibility to the BYC to end the demonstrations.
Despite this, the BYC contended that the situation had worsened in the Noshki area, where clashes erupted following roadblocks. The BYC claimed that one person had been killed and another injured, although officials did not confirm any deaths. However, local authorities in Noshki verified the occurrence of the clashes.
BYC leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch announced that sit-ins and roadblocks across the province would persist until the agreement was fully implemented. She challenged the government’s claim of releasing their supporters, asserting that many remained in custody.
Government officials reported that approximately 80 BYC members arrested during the Gwadar sit-in had been released, with more releases planned. They highlighted that the government had demonstrated flexibility by meeting BYC’s demands and argued that it was now the BYC’s duty to end the ongoing protests in Gwadar and other cities.
Communication issues, due to suspended internet and mobile services, complicated the gathering of complete information about the negotiations.
A senior Home Department official confirmed that around 80 arrested individuals had been released after the government “accepted BYC’s demands.” He mentioned that BYC leaders had promised to end the protests by 11 a.m. on Friday. “The notification regarding the withdrawal of FIRs was handed over to BYC leaders late at night,” the official told Dawn, adding that despite significant pressure, the administration had engaged in talks with BYC and signed terms of reference, yet protests in Gwadar and other areas continued. He expressed concern that the situation could deteriorate further if any incidents occurred.
Meanwhile, a fact-check by iVerify revealed that a widely circulated video on social media showing Dr. Mahrang being handled roughly by police during an arrest was actually old footage from June 2020.
On the other hand, Balochistan’s public relations department issued a statement on Friday evening announcing successful negotiations between the government and BYC, which allegedly led to the BYC calling off its sit-ins.
The statement claimed that despite the BYC’s firm stance, the provincial government and local administration had shown leniency and addressed their demands “in the larger interest of the people and Gwadar’s future.”
According to the statement, the talks agreed on the release of all arrested BYC supporters and that the Sindh government would be contacted for this purpose. It was also decided that those facing FIRs would be released after completing judicial processes by August 5. Additionally, it was agreed that participants of “Raji Muchi” would be given safe passage and that all belongings seized by police during the protests would be returned. Furthermore, mobile and internet services would be restored, and no citizens, including protest participants, would be harassed or victimized following the sit-ins.
The BYC mentioned that the suspension of internet and mobile services had obstructed communication with their leaders, though BYC leader Bebarg Baloch confirmed that peaceful protests were ongoing in Quetta.
