In a tragic incident, Advocate Qalandar Raza has passed away from a heart attack while participating in a protest in Quetta. This demonstration was part of a broader movement across Pak-occupied-Balochistan in response to a violent crackdown by Pak Army on the Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s Baloch Raaji Muchi rally in Gwadar.
The aggressive action against the peaceful gathering and the subsequent arrests have ignited widespread outrage, leading to protests and strikes throughout the region.
In the wake of these events, the Pakistan Bar Council, Balochistan Bar Council, Balochistan High Court Bar Association, and other regional bar associations have announced a complete boycott of judicial proceedings in POB. This boycott is a protest against the Pak Army’s brutality on peaceful Baloch protestors and aims to demand justice for those affected by the brutal crackdown in Gwadar.
Gwadar crackdown
In preparation for anticipated further protests, the Paki establishment has implemented strict security measures in Quetta. Roads leading to the Red Zone have been blocked with containers, and a heavy deployment of security forces, including the Frontier Corps and police, has been established. The Red Zone has been sealed off for the past four days, effectively barring public access.
These measures follow a call from the BYC for a Balochistan-wide shutter-down strike and protests against the violence in Gwadar. The committee has condemned the attacks on convoys and the arrests of participants, urging citizens to join the demonstrations. In response, cities across POB have witnessed strikes and rallies, with residents expressing solidarity with those affected by the Army’s heavy-handed tactics.