Islamabad Police attack Baloch protesters, several wounded

QUETTA: The latest visual from Islamabad shows that Pakistani forces have attacked the peaceful protesters and used teargas, water cannons and baton charge due to which several protesters including elderly women and children have been severely wounded.

Some elderly women have reportedly become unconscious.

The organisers of the protest have called on world democratic forces, international human rights organisations and international media to be their voice and speak up about the Pakistani forces’ brutalities against them.

The Long March comprising of the families of abducted Baloch, victims of CTD’s fake encounters, Civil Society activists and members of Baloch Yakjehti Committee reached Islamabad on Wednesday.

The March has set off from district Kech Balochistan after an initial protest against the murder of Balach Maula Bakhsh and other four Baloch youth in a fake encounter by Pakistan police’s Counter Terrorism Department. They demanded the arrest of those involved in Killing the Baloch youth and justice for Balach’s family but the local authorities ignored their appeal for justice.

The organiser then decided to March toward Islamabad against the ‘Baloch Genocide’ and other state brutalities in Balochistan.

The March attracted thousands of Baloch as passed via Quetta, Dukki, Kohlu, Rakhni, Dera Ghazi Khan and Taunsa Sharif before reaching Dera Ismael Khan.

The convoy of the Long March Against Baloch Genocide was warmly welcomed by activists Pashtun Tahafuz Movement including the parents of Manzoor Pashteen and MNA Ali Wazir another top leader of the PTM.

The Convoy reached Islamabad on Wednesday evening where the Pakistan/Islamabad Police and other security service personnel stopped them from going to the Islamabad Press Club.

Currently, there is a ‘standoff’ between the organisers of the Long March and the Pakistan police. The organisers have informed media via social media that the police have surrounded the participants of the March and are preventing them from going to the Press Club where another group of the families of Baloch abducted persons have set up a sit-in protest for more than 20 days.

One of the leaders of the Long March Mahrang Baloch said that they were protesting peacefully and wanted to go to the press club to record their protest.

In a video message, Mahrang Baloch said that they demand that a committee headed by the UN Working Group should be formed to compile an independent report on enforced disappearances in Balochistan. A committee should be established headed by the UN Working Group

All abducted persons should be released or produced before courts if there are any charges against them.

The CTD and the state-backed death squads should be disarmed.

She also urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of their protest and address their demands. However said, ‘If the court is helpless before the security forces at least it should allow us to continue our protest.’