Balochistan: Protests Against Raids on BookStalls and Arrest of Students

QUETTA: In the wake of widespread protests against the police raid on a bookstall set up by the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) in Gwadar, the committee has expressed disappointment over a recent court ruling.

The four students who were arrested and falsely charged during the incident have since been released on bail. However, the court’s decision to impose a fine on them has sparked outrage among student groups and activists.

In a statement, the BSAC expressed disbelief over the court’s ruling, calling the fine not only “ridiculous” but also part of a larger conspiracy to discourage Baloch youth from engaging in educational activities.

The committee pointed out that the Balochistan Book Caravan’s aim to promote the love of books and knowledge was being criminalised, with students facing fabricated charges and penalties that seemed designed to intimidate and suppress future educational initiatives.

“Our arrested comrades were falsely accused and brought before court, and while they have been released on bail, the fine imposed on them is a clear attempt to distance Baloch youth from education,” the statement read. “Courts are supposed to serve justice and protect the rights of citizens, but such decisions are a form of oppression against the people.”

Meanwhile, in the cities of Quetta, Turbat, and Dera Murad Jamali, Baloch students held large protests to demand justice for their arrested peers and the immediate removal of all charges.

The protests highlighted growing concern that the state is using legal and police tactics to suppress educational movements in Balochistan, where many believe that educational and intellectual freedoms are under attack.

Students in Gwadar, where the raid occurred, also took to the streets in protest. The police’s violent actions, including harassment and the arrest of students, were condemned as attempts to curb the freedom to access and promote knowledge in the region.

Demonstrators warned that such actions, combined with the court’s decision to fine the arrested students, would only serve to discourage young Baloch who aspire to higher education and intellectual growth.

The Baloch Students Action Committee has vowed to continue its struggle for the right to education and has pledged to escalate its protests until the charges against the students are dropped and those responsible for the raid are held accountable.

The issue of the state’s treatment of education and students in Balochistan continues to garner increasing attention, with large numbers of students and citizens now actively participating in the protests.