Karachi: Police unleashed brutal violence against protestors who gathered in Balochistan’s Quetta on July 11 demanding the release of a civilian who was reportedly abducted by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). The incident has sparked widespread criticism across that country.
According to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which led the protest, the abductee, Zaheer Ahmed Baloch, has been a government servant for the last 15 years and was taken away by CTD on June 27 while he was on his way to work. Zaheer is the father of two sons and the sole provider of his family.
The BYC said Zaheer, who has no political affiliations, was forcibly taken away. His family had been harassed by government agencies before he was picked up by CTD, added BYC.
Zaheer’s family together with other protestors held a sit-in in Quetta demanding the police register a first information report (FIR) against CTD and to press for the release of Zaheer. The family said police refused to mention CTD in the FIR, but insisted that the FIR would be filed against unknown persons. However, the family argued with the police an FIR against unknown persons would serve no purpose and would make Zaheer’s safe return unlikely. The family asserted that it is the CTD which is behind Zaheer’s abduction.
With the police not heeding to their demands, the protestors marched from Sariab Road in Quetta to the Red Zone area. When police swooped down on the protestors unleashing violence, several protestors suffered injuries. Some of them even had their limbs fractured.
“Every citizen has the right to hold a peaceful protest. But, for Balochs, it is becoming harder. We have to protest just to get an FIR filed and to be heard. Instead, the government violently beat us,” said Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch voice, told The Wire. Maharang, who is also the central organiser for BYC, led the protest along with Zaheer’s family.
“On July 11, once again, we (Baloch) were reminded that whether in Islamabad or Balochistan, our voices go unheard,” added Maharang.
The police brutality, which was caught on camera, was widely circulated on social media. One image, in particular, showing a security officer grabbing the Chaddar (shawl) of a Baloch woman brought back the memories of the 1970s military operation in East Bengal, now Bangladesh.
Women protest in Quetta against the abduction of a civilian. Photo: By arrangement.
According to Maharang, it is the state which does not want to find solutions to issues through dialogue. “It is the state that seeks violence as everyone had seen what had happened on July 11,” said Maharang, adding that the police even did not allow the injured to be taken to the hospital.
“Police and persons in civilian dress who had masked their faces who attacked us were saying that there was an order to kill them,” said another protester, Hooran Baloch, who sustained injuries.
Maharang said a police officer was heard saying, “Don’t beat Baloch women, just tear off their clothes.” Recalling the specific incident, Maharang said she pointedly told the officer, “Pari Gul, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
The Baloch activist called for an end to the military operation in the province and for the Baloch people to be given the right to live.
Beebow Baloch, another protestor, told The Wire that she was beaten up and was taken to Cantonment Police Station along with other protestors. Despite multiple requests, Beebow said, they were not allowed to register their protest peacefully.
Beebow went on to add that police fired and pelted stones at protestors. She said she overheard, when in police custody, an officer saying that “20,000 shells were used against protestors”.
Sibagatullah Shah, a member of the BYC, criticised Bilawal Bhutto, whose party now leads the government in the Balochistan province. Shah pointed out that Bilawal Bhutto condemned the then-caretaker government for violently beating protestors in Islamabad when he was in the opposition. And now his own government is brutally cracking down on Balochs, Shah said.
“During Joint Investigation Team (JIT) meetings, agency officials often said, Khoon Ka Badla Khoon – Blood for blood. How can anyone expect them to deliver justice for Baloch?” he asked.
The protest did prompt the authorities to act. An FIR was filed against CTD, one of the key demands of the protestors. The FIR was filed 16 days after Zaheer was abducted. Authorities have assured the protestors that Zaheer would walk free in 15 days.
Zaheer’s family and protestors vowed to resume protest if the authorities do not keep their word.
“The state fears women’s involvement in Balochistan’s politics and has thus targeted women to prevent them from getting involved in politics,” Mahrang said. “But they are wrong. Baloch women will persist in their fight for the rights of Balochistan.”
Veengas is a Karachi-based journalist, and editor at The Rise News.
