Quetta police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Dr. Mahrang Baloch and several others. The FIR alleges that Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sabgatullah Baloch, and Beebagr Baloch participated in a protest on May 18, blocking traffic on Court Road and breaking the lock of the Press Club. The report claims they chanted slogans and delivered speeches against Pakistan.
The police stated that due to the threat of terrorism on that day, the civil administration had closed the Press Club and Metropolitan areas.
It is noteworthy that the Baloch Solidarity Committee was scheduled to hold a conference titled “Gwadar: From Mega Projects to Mega Jail” at the Quetta Press Club on the same day. However, before the participants could arrive, the administration had locked the Press Club.
The Balochistan Union of Journalists issued a statement strongly condemning the lockdown of the Quetta Press Club, describing it as an attack on press freedom and a blatant violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.
In protest against the lockdown, journalists boycotted a session of the Balochistan Assembly. They chanted slogans against the administration and demanded the suspension of the Deputy Commissioner of Quetta. Later, the walkout was ended after assurances from the Chief Minister of Balochistan. During the meeting, journalists presented a four-point charter of demands to the Chief Minister.