Amnesty International has strongly condemned the Pakistani government for its harassment of the Baloch Long March protestors in Islamabad. The international human rights organization asserted that the authorities should be ashamed of their actions, especially following the forced conclusion of a month-long peaceful sit-in by the protestors, largely due to persistent harassment from the authorities.
According to Amnesty International, the peaceful protestors, which included families of victims of enforced disappearances, along with elderly individuals and young children, braved near-freezing temperatures at the National Press Club in Islamabad since December 22, 2023. The organization highlighted that the protestors were subjected to disinformation, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and detentions by Pakistani authorities.
Carolyn Horn, Amnesty International’s Programme Director for Law and Policy, criticized the Pakistani authorities, saying, “The Pakistani authorities should be ashamed of the harassment meted out to the Baloch Long March protestors.” She condemned the government’s indifference to the protestors’ plight, who had journeyed to Islamabad seeking justice.
It is worth noting that Dr. Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), announced the end of the Islamabad sit-in at a press conference on Tuesday. She expressed her disappointment with the state’s attitude: “Observing the anti-Baloch attitudes from the state, judiciary, media, federalist parties, so-called journalists, and intellectuals, and recognizing the prevailing animosity towards the Baloch nation, we announce the conclusion of our Islamabad dharna,” she said.
Dr. Mahrang also spoke about the broader challenges faced by the Baloch protesters. “The most disheartening aspect is that all pillars of the state, from the judiciary to the media, aligned against us. While state security agencies tortured us, the state’s judiciary remained criminally silent, and the media engaged in a campaign against us, concealing the state’s atrocities,” she remarked.
She further added, “The deep-seated animosity of state security agencies towards Balochistan has become evident in the eyes of our innocent children, elders, and women during this sit-in, creating an enduring memory of hatred.”
Concluding her press conference, Dr. Mahrang stated, “By adopting a violent attitude, the state has only added another chapter of hatred and disgust among the Baloch people. The day is approaching when the oppressed people of this region will unite against inhuman acts, holding torture and barbaric institutions accountable.”