Several students arrested by Islamabad Police, mostly Baloch, are currently held in various police stations in the capital. Following violence and arrests by Islamabad Police preventing the entry of the Baloch genocide Long March into Islamabad, female protesters were released during the night, but male protesters remain under police custody.
According to the Baloch Unity Committee in Islamabad, over 200 Baloch students, including those from other cities, are currently under police custody, including some Pashtun students. Students claim that arrested protestors are detained in various police stations in Islamabad, while none have been presented before a magistrate yet. Some students have been shifted by the police to an undisclosed location.
Despite the High Court’s order to release all detainees, no one has been released, and dozens of Baloch students are still under police custody. They are reportedly being held in harsh conditions, raising concerns of potential violence against them.
It should be noted that on 21st Dec, while attempting to block the entry into Islamabad, police used violence against Long March participants, including many children, who were injured. Later, the police transferred a large number of Long March participants into custody at various police stations.
There was also an attempt to transfer the women to Quetta from Islamabad late at night, but after strong resistance from the women, the police released the women and children under custody. On the other hand, protests continue across Pak-occupied-Balochistan against violence and arrests of Long March participants in Islamabad. Rally and protest events are also ongoing in Karachi and Lahore in solidarity with Long March participants.