‘Defense of Baloch Values’ Protests to Be Held Across Balochistan Against the Lyari Incident: BYC

QUETTA: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has announced a series of protests across Balochistan under the banner “Defense of Baloch Values,” following the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Lyari, Karachi, by Pakistani authorities on January 18, 2025.

The protests are set to begin on Monday and will continue throughout the region in response to the detention of activists and the brutal treatment of Baloch women, elders, and youth by police forces.

The BYC said that the peaceful public gathering held in Lyari was part of an ongoing awareness campaign for the Dalbandin National Gathering, scheduled for January 25, 2025.

According to the group, the Pakistani state and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government attacked the gathering, arresting key figures such as Lala Wahab Baloch, the Central Deputy Organiser of BYC, and Sammi Din Baloch. Several other activists were also detained, and Baloch women were reportedly held for six to seven hours before being released, after enduring torture.

Despite the release of women protesters, the BYC said that Lala Wahab Baloch and other detainees remain in custody, with no formal charges filed against them. The committee emphasised that these actions represent an attack on Baloch values, particularly the rights and honour of Baloch women.

In a statement, the BYC spokesperson condemned the crackdown, stating, “the attack on the public gathering in Lyari by the state and the PPP government is an expression of hatred against the Baloch nation and a direct assault on our cultural values. Baloch women and elders are not alone; the entire Baloch nation stands with them in resistance.”

The group also criticised the state’s escalating repression in Balochistan, pointing to efforts to thwart the Dalbandin National Gathering through arrests, criminal cases, and blockages to peaceful public gatherings in other areas like Mastung and Naseerabad.

They revealed that the authorities had filed criminal cases against BYC leaders, including Dr. Maherang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah Ji, for organising peaceful protests. In addition, internet services have been shut down in multiple regions to disrupt communication and organising efforts.

Despite these measures, the BYC vowed to intensify its efforts. “All state attempts to suppress our voice will fail. We will continue our resistance and strengthen our movement,” the spokesperson declared.

The protests scheduled for Monday mark the beginning of a wider campaign to mobilise support for the Dalbandin rally and call attention to the ongoing repression faced by Baloch activists and civilians. The BYC added that the ongoing struggle against oppression is not just a political movement but a national resistance that has endured for over seven decades.

The Lyari incident has further fuelled tensions in Balochistan, where the Baloch Yakjehti Committee has long advocated for the rights of the Baloch people and the recognition of their cultural identity. The protests are expected attract a larger show of solidarity, with Baloch leaders calling on people across the region to unite for the defence of Baloch values and against state violence.