Protests in Balochistan Demand Justice for Victims of State Violence
Photo credit: BYC
QUETTA: A joint protest rally was organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the relatives of the slain Zareef Umar from Tump and Navid Hameed from Buleda in the in Quetta – capital of Pakistan Occupied Balochistan.
The rally began at Shaheed Fida Chowk, where a large crowd, including women, gathered to march towards the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. The protesters staged a sit-in in front of the DC Office, demanding justice for the families of the deceased and an end to ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan.
The participants, marching through the main bazaar, voiced their grievances, calling for accountability for the killings of Zareef Umar and Navid Hameed. They also demanded the cessation of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, which they say have been rampant in the region.
Protesters held talks with the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Maqbool Anwar and later with ADC Khalil Murad. The family members of the slain individuals presented their demands, with the key request being the registration of an FIR against those responsible for the killings of Zareef Umar and Navid Hameed, and the punishment of the perpetrators according to the law.
The protesters, who have been staging a sit-in at Shaheed Fida Chowk for several days, vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met. Their protest has received significant support from activists of the Baloch Yakhehti Committee, as well as from various political and social organisations, and the lawyer community.
This protest comes amid a larger wave of demonstrations across Balochistan, which also include condemnations of the recent killing of Zareef Baloch and the ongoing oppression faced by the Baloch people.
Leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), including Mahrang Baloch, Sibghatullah Baloch, and relatives of missing persons, addressed the crowd, calling for an end to the indifference that allows such violence to persist.
BYC leaders highlighted the urgency of speaking out against these injustices, warning that continued silence could further endanger human lives. Protesters also voiced concerns about the current situation in Kech, where reports of curfews and harassment by the Frontier Corps (FC) have escalated.
The protesters in Turbat and Hub reported that security forces had seized mobile phones from demonstrators and used violence to intimidate them.
In Hub, police and FC personnel reportedly deployed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse peaceful protesters, leading to several arrests. These incidents have raised alarms over the safety of protesters, including women, children, and elderly participants.
The rally also called for an independent investigation into the killing of Zareef Baloch, and an FIR to be lodged against FC personnel involved in his abduction and murder. Protesters demanded justice for other victims of state violence, including Naveed Baloch, who was killed by state forces in Buleda.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has warned that if their demands are not met, protests will intensify across Balochistan. The organisation has urged human rights organisations, civil society groups, and citizens to stand in solidarity with the victims and continue to demand justice.
