Karachi Protests: Activists Rally Against Crackdown on Baloch Protesters
In Karachi, civil society activists gathered to protest against the state crackdown on Baloch protesters in Sindh and Balochistan. The demonstrators chanted slogans against the government’s actions and demanded an end to the siege of Gwadar.
Virsa Pirzado, a member of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, stated, “We won’t back down until and unless the oppression stops.” She condemned the state’s actions, including the arrest and mistreatment of Baloch women and children.
On Friday night, several workers of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) were arrested near the Arts Council roundabout while protesting against alleged torture and detention in Gwadar. The BYC accused the police of manhandling participants and detaining around 50 workers, including women.
The police claimed that the organizers violated a ban on unlawful assembly in the Red Zone and stated that 14 male activists were booked under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, while women protesters were released immediately. However, activists argued that the number of detainees was underreported.
Riaz Ahmed, a Karachi University professor, highlighted that peaceful Baloch protesters were being pushed into a corner. He expressed concern that several arrested individuals had not returned home and might be declared missing persons.
Senior journalist Mujahid Barelvi criticized the authorities for imposing a four-day ban on public gatherings in the Red Zone. He demanded that the Press Club be declared a Red Zone for any government official as long as the ban remains.
The protest, which started small, soon grew into a larger crowd. Demonstrators attempted to march towards the Artillery Maidan police station to check on the detainees but were stopped by a large contingent of police officers.
Iqra Baloch questioned the police’s presence at protests concerning the Baloch people, while activist Anum Khan emphasized that the protest in Gwadar was against enforced disappearances. She stated that the state’s response of intimidation and force showed their weakness, not strength.
Doubts Revealed
Karachi -: Karachi is a big city in Pakistan, similar to how Mumbai is a big city in India.
Protests -: Protests are when people gather to show they are unhappy about something and want it to change.
Activists -: Activists are people who work hard to bring about social or political change.
Crackdown -: A crackdown is when the government takes strong action to stop something, often using force.
Baloch -: Baloch refers to people from Balochistan, a region in Pakistan.
Sindh -: Sindh is another region in Pakistan, like how Maharashtra is a region in India.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a large region in Pakistan, known for its unique culture and history.
Gwadar -: Gwadar is a port city in Balochistan, important for trade and shipping.
Missing persons -: Missing persons are people who have disappeared and their families don’t know where they are.
Unlawful assembly -: Unlawful assembly is when people gather in a way that is not allowed by the government.
