In Islamabad, individuals alleged to be members of “state-sponsored death squads” have set up a camp opposite a peaceful sit-in, which includes relatives of missing persons and Baloch women protesting against “Baloch Genocide.” The emergence of this counter-protest, located outside the National Press Club, poses a potential threat to the ongoing peaceful Baloch protest and raises serious concerns about the possibility of disruptions.
The counter-protest camp is reportedly backed by the Government of Balochistan, with suspected directives from Pakistan’s security agencies. Key figures of this counter-protest include Jamal Raisani, a former interim minister of Balochistan and son of the alleged death squad leader Siraj Raisani. Accompanying him are Zahid Mohammad Hassani, Fareed Raisani, and Zulfiqar Mohammad Hasni, all reportedly linked to “state-sponsored death squads” in Balochistan with histories of violent activities.
Photographic evidence has surfaced, allegedly showing these individuals in the company of known criminal and jihadist figures in Balochistan. Of particular note is Zahid M. Hasni, identified as the brother of Zakria M. Hasni — a notorious criminal and leader of a pro-Pakistani death squad in Khuzdar. Both Zahid and Zakria are implicated in various crimes, including rape, abduction, and murder, with Zakria allegedly boasting about these crimes on social media platforms.
Moreover, Zulfiqar M. Hasni, identified as a senior member of Zakria’s group, is purportedly shown in photographs with figures linked to these squads and Pakistani forces. This includes Zakria, former IG FC Balochistan Major General Sher Afgun, and former state minister Sarfaraz Bugti. Another associate of the counter-protest, Fareed Raisani, is known for his alleged criminal activities in Quetta and affiliation with a pro-Pakistani armed group, being depicted with jihadist death squad leader Shafeeq Mengal and former BAP leader Sarfaraz Bugti.
The establishment of this counter-protest is widely perceived as a tactic to disrupt the peaceful Baloch demonstration. Dr. MahRang Baloch, a leading figure in the Baloch protest camp, has expressed grave concerns for the safety of the Baloch protesters in Islamabad, which include the elderly, women, and children, in light of the backgrounds of the individuals spearheading the counter-protest.
This development is the latest in a series of actions reportedly undertaken by Pakistani authorities to suppress the ongoing protest against the “Baloch Genocide,” which commenced on November 23 of the previous year. These actions include the imposition of roadblocks, initiation of legal actions against protesters, and restricting supplies to the Islamabad protest camp.
Despite these adversities, the Baloch protesters have maintained their peaceful stance, demanding a UN-led investigation into human rights abuses in Balochistan, an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, constraints on the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and the dismantling of the “state-sponsored death squads.”
The establishment of the counter-protest, especially involving individuals with alleged ties to death squads, raises critical questions about the state’s response to the protesters’ demands and its commitment to upholding human rights.
This situation, far from fostering reconciliation, may exacerbate tensions and highlights a concerning disregard for the primary concerns of the Baloch protesters, such as ending enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and dismantling the “state-sponsored death squads.”