The Baloch National Movement (BNM) UK chapter recently organized a protest rally in London to condemn the crackdown on Baloch Raaji Muchi, a Baloch national gathering. The rally commenced at Trafalgar Square and saw substantial participation from BNM members, as well as from the Sindhi and Baloch communities, including women and children. The protestors marched through various routes to the Commonwealth Office, where they held a vigorous demonstration.
The protest aimed to highlight and denounce the severe violence and brutality inflicted by Pak forces during the Baloch Raaji Muchi in Gwadar, Mastung, and Nushki. Key issues raised included the killing of three participants, injuries to dozens, enforced disappearance of hundreds of Baloch Youth Congress (BYC) activists and the blockade of Gwadar along with road closures.
During the demonstration, participants demanded an end to the Gwadar blockade and called for justice for the victims of state terrorism. They carried placards and banners denouncing Pak forces’ actions and expressing support for the Baloch Raaji Muchi. Protestors urged the international community to take action against the ongoing human rights violations in Pak-occupied-Balochistan.
Organizers condemned the Pakistan forces’ actions in Gwadar, Mastung, and Nushki as intolerable and called for the immediate lifting of the Gwadar blockade to prevent a potential humanitarian crisis.
BNM UK Chapter
Hassan Dost Baloch, the Central Junior Joint Secretary of BNM, addressed the crowd, condemning the crackdown and blockade. He appealed to international and human rights organizations to hold Pakistan accountable for its severe human rights abuses in POB. He criticized the Pak Army’s attempts to conceal its actions through internet and road blockages.
Manzoor Baloch, President of the BNM UK Chapter, praised the leadership and efforts of Baloch women in the struggle for national rights. He highlighted the bravery of Baloch women standing alongside their male counterparts and said that their political awareness and struggle serve as a beacon for oppressed nations.
Female activist Gul Reesani addressed the protestors, emphasizing that their gathering was to show solidarity with victims of Army violence during the Baloch Raaji Muchi and to assert that the Baloch people will not abandon their land or accept exploitative projects like CPEC. She described the blockade of Gwadar and disruptions to food and supplies as signs of the Pak Army’s desperation and asserted that such measures will not silence the people.
Kainat Baloch, another speaker, called the participation of Baloch women in the Baloch Raji Muchi a historic achievement. She credited their current position to the sacrifices of past activists who trusted and included Baloch women in the struggle. Kainat Baloch urged that now is the time for resilience and solidarity in the fight for their cause.
Earlier, BNM organized protest demonstrations in the Netherlands and South Korea to condemn Pak authorities for their suppression of a historic event in Gwadar, Pak-occupied-Balochistan.