August 6, 2024
Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE:
The sit-in by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Gwadar, Balochistan, demanding the recovery of missing persons and protesting against the violence at rallies, including the deaths of protesters, entered its ninth day on Tuesday, August 6.
At a press conference on Monday, August 5, DG ISPR Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry labelled the leadership of the BYC as proxies for terrorists and criminal mafias. He stated that the BYC and its leaders are involved with terrorist organizations and illegal activities, funded externally to propagate against the military.
Bebarg Baloch, the central leader of BYC, expressed regret over DG ISPR’s statement, and challenged him to present proof of external funding, asserting that the spokesperson of ISPR had no right to make such an assertion. “If it is so, then the case should be presented in the court. Only the court can pass such a verdict.”
Former Balochistan Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, speaking on Aaj News’ programme, Spotlight, said the situation would not have escalated if the government had permitted the BYC to hold a meeting and had not resorted to violence. Provincial Minister
Sadiq Imrani, also on the programme, corroborated Baloch’s statement and added that the provincial government is ready to negotiate with the protestors through Dr Abdul Malik Baloch.
The BYC called for the Baloch Raaji Machi (Baloch National Gathering) against enforced disappearances in Gwadar on July 28. Following the deaths of protesters, the gathering turned into a sit-in. In addition to the main sit-in in Gwadar, similar protests are being held in Shal, Panjgur, Turbat, and Nushki in Balochistan.
The BYC organized a Baloch Raaji Machi rally on July 28 to protest against enforced disappearances in Balochistan. However, when security forces stopped convoys from different areas of Balochistan traveling to Gwadar, clashes broke out between the forces and BYC supporters. One person was killed and several workers were arrested.
Thereafter, the leaders of the BYC decided to convert the rally into a sit-in in Gwadar, and pledged to continue until the release of all arrested individuals, the reopening of all roads, and the filing of FIRs against personnel involved in the violence that led to the deaths and injuries of BYC members.