Protests in Balochistan have escalated sharply following a violent state crackdown on participants of the ‘Baloch Raaji Muchi’ and the reported disappearances of several leaders from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Gwadar.
Activists Sammi Deen Baloch, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, and Sibghatullah Baloch have been missing since July 29, 2024. Sammi Deen, known for her work against enforced disappearances and a recipient of the Front Line Defenders award, was also injured during the crackdown.
Journalist Hamid Mir has reported that Sammi Deen Baloch and other activists were detained by Pakistan Army. He criticized the arrest of women activists, asserting that it will only exacerbate the situation rather than resolve it.
The heavy-handed state response, which has resulted in several deaths, numerous injuries, and the detention of nearly a thousand BYC supporters, has triggered widespread protests across POB. Demonstrations have erupted in cities such as Quetta, Khuzdar, Kharan, Kalat, and Dalbandin, with protesters demanding the release of detainees and an end to Pak Army violence.
In Quetta, large crowds protested against violence against peaceful demonstrators. In Dalbandin, police efforts to disperse protesters led to clashes, with the crowd throwing stones and police responding with open fire.
In Kharan, residents have shown support for the ‘Baloch Raaji Muchi’ participants, while in Khuzdar, Pak forces have blocked the BYC’s protest rally, raising fears of further crackdowns. These actions have resulted in road blockades and shutter-down strikes across many cities, with several highways in POB being obstructed.
BYC’s Baloch Raaji Muchi
Initially scheduled as a one-day event on July 28, the ‘Baloch Raaji Muchi’ has evolved into an indefinite sit-in protest on Gwadar’s Marine Drive due to the brutal crackdown. On Monday, a second wave of violence by Pak security forces resulted in additional casualties and injuries. Despite this, thousands of protesters reassembled at the sit-in site by the evening.
A BYC representative reported that the security forces conducted another crackdown on Monday, detaining BYC leaders Sammi Deen Baloch, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, and Sibghatullah Baloch, who have been moved to an undisclosed location. The representative confirmed that many BYC workers were also taken into custody, and declared, “The sit-in will persist until all detained workers are released.”
Dr. Mahrang Baloch described the current conditions in Gwadar as apocalyptic, noting that the entire city is effectively held hostage by the military. Thousands more are waiting at the Talaar Checkpoint, 60 km from Gwadar, to join the protests. Pak forces opened fire in Talaar, resulting in at least two deaths and over 20 injuries.