Islamabad: Baloch protesters barred from Press Club as families are evicted from flats overnight

Police in Islamabad on Sunday prevented Baloch protesters from reaching the National Press Club, as a sit-in organized by families of forcibly disappeared persons and detained Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders entered its fifth day. Despite their efforts to march towards the press club, authorities sealed the roads with barricades, blocking their path and denying them access to the venue. The protesters, including women, children, and the elderly, responded by resuming their sit-in on the road, continuing their demonstration under difficult weather conditions.

The protesters questioned the authorities’ actions, asking whether it is a crime to come from Balochistan to Islamabad and peacefully protest. They criticized the lack of basic facilities, revealing that they had been enduring heavy rain and scorching sun without tents or shaded areas for five days. Their resilience highlighted the severity of their plight and the government’s refusal to provide even minimal shelter during their prolonged demonstration.

According to the family of BYC leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch, police officers attempted to obstruct their peaceful protest and treated the protesters “like criminals and enemies.” The family condemned the heavy-handed tactics used by law enforcement, which they viewed as an attempt to suppress their voices and weaken their movement for justice. The incident drew widespread criticism from human rights advocates and civil society members.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Baloch Yakjehti Committee described the police’s actions as “repressive tactics,” including sealing roads, denying the protesters access to tents or shaded areas, and deploying a police bus that raised fears of forced eviction. The committee emphasized that such measures not only violate the right to peaceful assembly but also aim to erase the voices of those demanding justice for their loved ones.

Late on Sunday night, rights advocate Imaan Mazari reported another troubling incident involving the eviction of Baloch mothers and daughters from a flat in Islamabad. She alleged that the local police station house officer (SHO) of Sabzi Mandi pressured the landlord to evict the women, cutting off water supply earlier in the day. The women were reportedly forced to vacate the premises around midnight, an act Mazari described as part of a broader campaign of intimidation against Baloch activists.

Mazari warned that these actions send a dangerous message from the state to Balochistan, indicating a pattern of harassment and suppression. She expressed concern that such measures could have serious implications for the future of the country, as they reflect an attempt to silence dissent and intimidate those seeking justice. The incidents underscore the escalating tensions and the government’s increasingly repressive stance towards Baloch activists and their families.