Young Baloch Man Injured as Car Crashes into Protest on CPEC Highway

QUETTA: A peaceful sit-in Vigil demanding the recovery of two missing persons, Zaman Jan and Abul Hassan, turned violent on Friday when a Vehicle was deliberately driven into the protest site at Hoshab Zero Point on the CPEC highway.

The incident left a young man, Jehanzaib Baloch, from Balgtar, severely injured.

According to witnesses and protesters, the truck struck Jehanzaib, causing serious injuries to his legs and other parts of his body. Protesters said that the act appeared intentional, fuelling tensions at the site of the demonstration.

The protest had been ongoing since the detention of Zaman Jan and Abul Hassan, who were handed over to authorities on December 16, reportedly on the orders of the District Council Chairman of Kech. A third individual, Altaf, who was detained with them, was later released.

On January 1, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have arrested Zaman Jan and Abul Hassan from Qila Abdullah, accusing them of being affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a pro-freedom armed organisation. These allegations were immediately rejected by the families of the detained individuals, who insist that both men were wrongfully taken into custody.

In response to the CTD’s claims and the continued disappearance of the two men, their families and supporters began a sit-in protest on the CPEC highway, demanding transparency and the release of Zaman Jan and Abul Hassan. They have vowed to continue their protest until both men are brought to light and justice is served.

The deliberate nature of the truck incident has raised concerns about the safety of protesters. Baloch human rights activists and organisation called for an immediate investigation into the attack and for the safety of peaceful demonstrators.