Protests Across Balochistan Against Arrests and State Oppression

QUETTA: Protests erupted in several regions of Balochistan today on the sixth day of demonstrations against the arrests of key leaders from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen, Beebo Baloch, Beebarg Baloch, and others.

These rallies also condemned violence against women and the ongoing state repression in the region. A significant number of women participated in the protests, expressing strong discontent with the government’s actions.

In the coastal city of Gwadar, a large rally was organised in response to the arrests of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s central leaders. The protest started at Seerat-un-Nabi (SAW) Chowk, passed through Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Avenue, and concluded at Shuhada-e-Jiwani Chowk near Maki Mosque. A diverse group of participants, including men, women, and children, gathered in solidarity, carrying placards with various slogans and demands.

During the protest, several prominent leaders spoke out against the actions of the government. Hussain Wadila, Chairman of the Haq Do Movement, Hafeez Khiazi, Central Organizer, and Rukhshana Dost Mohammad all addressed the crowd, denouncing the military’s increasing crackdown in Balochistan. They expressed concern that the government had launched an operation under the guise of “hard state” tactics, claiming that Baloch people had not committed any unconstitutional acts.

“Dr. Mahrang Baloch is the voice of the Baloch people,” said Wadila. “The struggle of Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Saami Deen has united the Baloch nation. The Chief Minister of Balochistan is trying to dismantle the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, but he will fail. Our movement has already defeated the state. The Baloch have been fighting for their land, their nation, and their people for 75 years.”

The leaders emphasised that the arrests of Mahrang Baloch, Beebo Baloch, Sammi Deen, Lala Wahab, and Bebarg Baloch were not isolated incidents, but rather symbolic of the larger state crackdown on the entire Baloch population. They questioned why Baloch citizens should remain silent in the face of such oppression.

Protests were not limited to Gwadar. In other cities, including Turbat, Khuzdar, Kharan, and Hub Chowki, thousands of people took to the streets to voice their anger against the arrests and state violence.

In these rallies, speakers highlighted the state’s attempts to break the Baloch resistance. They pointed out that despite the government’s expectations that Sarfraz Bugti would bring an end to the Baloch struggle, the people’s resistance was only growing stronger.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in the Jhalawan region also condemned the recent wave of state-led terrorism. The members stated that Balochistan had been enduring such oppression for over seven decades and that the current crackdown in Quetta’s Kushal area was another example of the state’s brutality. “Even innocent 12-year-old children are not safe from the state’s violence,” said a spokesperson. “The oppression has not decreased, even during the sacred month of Ramadan. The only way to stop this is for the Baloch to unite.”

Mehrak Baloch, another key figure in the protests, addressed the crowd and called on the Baloch nation to rise against state oppression. “Today, the voices of the Baloch nation – Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Beebarg Baloch, and Beebo Baloch – are locked in state torture cells. If we remain silent, this silence will bring even more harm to our nation.”

Shafiq Sasoli, also addressing the rally, expressed solidarity with the families of the forcibly disappeared persons. “For the past 15 to 20 years, these families have been enduring the pain of losing their loved ones,” he said. “Today, we stand with them. Every person here has a missing brother, son, or loved one. We know why we are being disappeared and why our voices are being silenced.”

Kabir Baloch’s mother, another speaker, recounted her suffering, saying, “My son has been forcibly disappeared for 16 years, and I have been wandering the streets for justice all this time. Dr. Mahrang Baloch, who was the voice for the disappeared, has also been taken away by force. Our mothers and sisters are calling for justice, but the government has shown no mercy, not even in the holy month of Ramadan.”

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) of the Jhalawan region issued a statement demanding an immediate end to the oppression of the Baloch people. They called for the release of all forcibly disappeared individuals and the restoration of the Baloch people’s fundamental human and national rights.

“The Baloch Yakjehti Committee stands firm with the people and will continue to fight for justice for our martyrs, missing persons, and the oppressed families,” the statement concluded.