August 7, 2024
by Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE:
The dharna organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee in Gwadar has entered its 10th day, with no breakthrough in negotiations with the Balochistan government.
Provincial Minister of Balochistan Sadiq Imrani, speaking on Aaj News programme, Spotlight, on Monday, August 5, invited the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders to negotiate with the provincial government through former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch.
In response to Imrani’s statement, Bibarg Baloch, the central leader of the BYC, questioned the sincerity of his invitation, asking, “if he had enough authority to send Dr Abdul Malik Baloch for negotiations or it was rhetoric for the media.”
Talking to Voicepk, Bibarg Baloch said that security forces fired at convoys heading to the Baloch National Gathering (Baloch Raaji Muchi), resulting in the deaths of three workers – “We have proof of this.”
He added, “We demand that an FIR be registered against the security personnel responsible for these actions.”
The BYC had called a Baloch Raaji Muchi (Baloch National Gathering) against forced disappearances in Gwadar on July 28. Following firing on the rally that resulted in the deaths of BYC activists, the rally was turned into a sit-in.
In addition to the main dharna in Gwadar, related sit-ins are also ongoing in Shal, Panjgur, Turbat, and Nushki.
The demands of the BYC include the release of all individuals arrested in connection with the Baloch Raaji Muchi, the opening of all roads, and the filing of FIRs against the personnel responsible for the killings and injuries of the committee’s workers.