Quetta, Mar 22 (NVI) Pakistani forces used brutality to end a peaceful sit-in early this morning in Quetta, seizing bodies of three protesters killed in police action yesterday and detaining several protesters, including Balochistan’s top human rights activist Mahrang Baloch.
It prompted a total shutdown of businesses and suspension of traffic across Balochistan during the day even as condemnations of the action by the Pakistani forces poured in from various parts of the world.
During the shutdown, protest marches and demonstrations were held at various places in Balochistan.
At least 3 persons, including a minor boy, were killed and dozens injured in firing and teargas shelling by the Pakistani forces yesterday on a peaceful protest held by the kin of those abducted by the government forces and secret agencies.
Towards the evening yesterday, the protesters, under the flag of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), headed by Mahrang Baloch, assembled again for a sit-in at Quetta’s Sariab area, with the bodies of the three slain youth being on display.
They were demanding action against those personnel of the forces who killed the three youth yesterday.
The Pakistani forces, in a pre-dawn attack, raided the protesters, forcibly seizing the bodies of three slain protesters and detaining Mahrang Baloch along with several others.
Their whereabouts remained unknown till tonight.
Eyewitnesses said Pakistani forces used excessive force against peaceful protesters.
The BYC, in a statement, said the police and Pakistani agencies carried out a violent raid on the sit-in at around 5:30 AM Saturday.
“Quetta police and the administration have arrested Dr. Mahrang Baloch, along with her companions, and forcibly taken possession of the bodies of our martyred youth,”
the BYC said.
“Women and children present at the protest site were also subjected to violence,” it said.
Condemning the action by the State as an “act of terrorism,” the BYC demanded the immediate release of all detained activists and the return of the seized bodies.
The actions by the Pakistani government agencies were condemned across the world.
Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur HRDs, in a social media post, said she was “very concerned” by reports that Dr Mahrang Baloch and a number of others had been arrested in Balochistan following a crackdown on Baloch Yakjehti Committee protesters in Quetta.
PEN Norway, a prominent international human rights organisation based in Norway, also expressed deep concern “for the wellbeing” of Mahrang Baloch after her arrest.
Noting that she had been “kept incommunicado since” her detention, it asked the Government of Pakistan to “immediately provide her with access to legal counsel & unconditionally release her.”
Michael Arizanti, a Journalist and Human Rights defender, said he was “deeply alarmed and outraged by the detention” of Mahrang Baloch. (NVI)
