Parts of Balochistan shut down amid police crackdown on peaceful protest

QUETTA: Parts of Balochistan were brought to a standstill on March 23 as residents protested the police crackdown on members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), as reported by the Dawn.

The protest was triggered by the recent arrest of several BYC activists, including Mahrang Baloch, the chief organiser of the committee, who was detained along with 16 other activists.

In response to the crackdown, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee announced that its planned overnight sit-in protest in Quetta would be postponed, as reported by the Balochistan Post.

Senior BYC leader Sibghatullah Shah Ji addressed the public in a video message, urging protesters to stay home for their safety. "We cannot allow the state to blame the Baloch public for the violence and destruction being carried out by state forces," he said, referring to the police's actions of setting public property on fire and using firearms against civilians. "We have been left with no choice but to postpone the protest to avoid further bloodshed."

According to Dawn, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the actions of the authorities, calling for a de-escalation of the situation. In a statement, the HRCP warned that such heavy-handed tactics would only deepen the frustrations of the local population. "The arrest of BYC leaders and the suspension of connectivity in Quetta are knee-jerk reactions that will only exacerbate the situation," the commission said, demanding the immediate release of Mahrang Baloch and other detained activists. It also called for urgent dialogue to address the growing unrest. (ANI)

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