Islamabad [Pakistan], December 23 (ANI): Amid the ongoing Baloch protest in Pakistan, Pakistani author and journalist Hanif Mohammad returned his “Sitara e Imtiaz” award on Saturday in protest against Pakistan’s action on the Balochistan march. In a social media post, Hanif accused the state government of abducting and torturing Baloch citizens.

https://x.com/mohammedhanif/status/1738514456756326454?s=20
In a post shared on X, he said, “In protest, returning my Sitara e Imtiaz, given to me by a state that continues to abduct and torture Baloch citizens. Journalists of my generation have seen @SammiBaluch and @MahrangBaloch_ grow up in protest camps. Ashamed to witness a new generation being denied basic dignity.”

On Wednesday night, Islamabad Police cracked down on and broke up Baloch protesters, who had gathered in the capital to voice their opposition to enforced disappearances and alleged extrajudicial killings in their region. More than 200 demonstrators from various parts of Islamabad were arrested. Police batons, water cannons and tear gas were also used against the protesters, according to Dawn.
Politicians, analysts, and human rights organisations denounced the events.

Later, on Thursday night, the administration announced that 90 per cent of the Baloch men and women detained had been freed, with the exception of individuals who police were unable to identify, according to Dawn. Notably, the movement against the Baloch Genocide; the detained females were released at last after 26 hours of humiliation, harassment and torture from Islamabad Police.
Still, 162 male protestors have been shifted to Adiala Jail and more than 50 males have been detained in different police stations in Islamabad.

“We request and appeal to the Baloch nation to continue their protests against the inhumane treatment of protesters in Islamabad and stand up against this treatment of Baloch nation and raise their voice in each and every possible way for those detained friends, who had the courage to speak and stand against the mass genocide of Baloch nation,” the committee posted earlier. The committee further stated, “We shall continue our movement against Baloch Genocide and the extra-judicial abductions.” (ANI)

Baloch Yakjehti Committee gives Pakistan govt 3-day ultimatum for detainees’ release IST

Islamabad [Pakistan], December 24 (ANI): Baloch protesters demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in their province issued a three-day ultimatum to the state on Saturday, as per Dawn newspaper. Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper.

The protestors called for the immediate release of all demonstrators detained so far and the quashing of charges against them, failing which the demonstrators would be “compelled to take harsh steps and the state and its administration shall be responsible for this”.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) issued the demands as they claimed that over 100 previously detained members were not presented in courts and were “missing” while they continued their rally outside Islamabad’s National Press Club (NPC) amid the presence of the police.

The long march led by Baloch women — which started in Turbat on December 6 after the alleged “extrajudicial killing” of a Baloch youth by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officials — had reached the federal capital on Wednesday. However, the police had blocked entry points of the city along with major arteries to prevent the protesters from reaching the NPC, as per Dawn.

The Islamabad police had subsequently used brutal force to disperse and detain the demonstrators with over 200 taken into custody from different areas of the federal capital. The demonstrators were also met with tear gas, water cannons and police batons.

Human rights organisations, politicians and analysts strongly condemned the events. On Thursday evening, the government said 90 per cent of the Baloch men and women taken into custody were released, except for the men who “could not be identified” by police. The police actions were censured by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, President Dr Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar as well.

The BYC had earlier announced a rally and sit-in at the NPC for Saturday, saying that it would also hold a press conference on the next step of the movement. The press release issued from the group said nearly 350 demonstrators were arrested of which 33 were granted bail, over 250 were still in jail and over 100 were still not presented in court whose status was missing.

“We are issuing a three-day ultimatum to state for the withdrawal of FIRs (first information report) registered against peaceful protesters and releasing the 100+ Baloch students whose status is still missing,” the press release said, as per Dawn. (ANI)