Staff Reporter:
QUETTA: On Wednesday, FIRs were filed against members of the Baloch Solidarity Committee and participants in shutter-down strikes and rallies in several cities, including Barkhan and Othal. The police took this action following widespread protests and sit-ins organized by the Committee across Balochistan, demanding an end to alleged human rights violations.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove condemned the violent nature of some protests and stated that the government would act against those inciting violence. He criticized the BYC and other human rights groups for their silence during terrorist incidents in the region. Despite the tense situation, protests have continued for six consecutive days in Gwadar and other areas without major incidents. Security has been tightened across the province to maintain order.
According to reports, the Othal police registered an FIR against Committee leaders and workers after a campaign involving pamphleteering and wall chalking aimed at halting political activities related to Baloch Raji Machi. The Baloch Solidarity Committee reported that Qazi Sirajul Haq, a leader from Othal, was arrested, with no information provided regarding his status, raising concerns among protestors.
The protests, called by the Baloch Youth Council (BYC), led to complete strikes in various cities. The Baloch Solidarity Committee insists that peaceful rallies are a fundamental right and criticizes the authorities for raiding homes and making arrests. They have vowed to continue their demonstrations until the FIRs are withdrawn and the detentions cease.
Balochistan’s government reiterated its commitment to finding peaceful solutions to the region’s issues. Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti emphasized that protest is a constitutional right but warned that no one would be allowed to disrupt public order or advance a harmful agenda.
In Quetta, the provincial capital, strict security measures have been implemented to maintain law and order. The main red zone, housing the Governor’s House and Chief Minister’s Secretariat, has been sealed to prevent protests. The Deputy Commissioner of Quetta has designated the main hockey ground as a space for public meetings and protests, emphasizing that disruptions to traffic and daily life will not be tolerated.
