A police raid on a Baloch Raaji Muchi organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Karachi has resulted in the detention of around 50 male protesters, including 13 women. The police operation, aimed at dispersing those demanding the release of detained colleagues, has been marked by severe violence and arrests, with the occupied-authorities targeting Baloch women who were staging a sit-in at the Karachi Press Club.
The protest was held in response to ongoing violence and arrests of Baloch Raaji Muchi participants in Gwadar and other parts of Pak-occupied-Balochistan. The crackdown against peaceful Baloch protesters in both POB and Karachi represents a serious infringement on their fundamental rights. Despite their peaceful intentions, the protesters have been met with aggressive tactics and mass arrests.
Among those arrested in Karachi are renowned human rights activist Professor Nida Kirmani, several Baloch women, and Fozia Baloch, an organizer and leader of the BYC, all of whom have been transferred to the police station.
The BYC condemned the actions of the Pak Army for this blatant violation of the right to peaceful assembly and free expression. Reportedly, bogus cases are being filed against the detained Baloch protesters in Karachi, and some of the arrested women are being forcibly transferred to undisclosed locations. This latest episode of brutality highlights the ongoing repression faced by the Baloch community.