A protest organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) took place in Hub Chowki on Monday, despite efforts by the police to block access to the Lasbela Press Club.
The demonstration is part of the BYC’s ongoing movement under the theme “Breaking the Silence: Standing Against Enforced Disappearances.”
The group aims to draw attention to the growing number of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, with reports suggesting that around 60 individuals have gone missing in October alone.
Protesters, including families of the disappeared, gathered on Mahmoodabad Road before marching through Hub Chowki and staging a sit-in at Mondra Chowk. They chanted slogans demanding the recovery of missing persons and condemned the practice of enforced disappearances in the region.
Despite police blockades and barriers around the Lasbela Press Club to prevent access, demonstrators continued their rally. The BYC accused authorities of attempting to stifle the protest.
“Despite the police blockade, peaceful protestors took to the main roads and streets of Hub Chowki, refusing to be silenced,” the BYC said in a statement. “This is part of BYC’s series of protests, and the resistance remains strong. The voices of the Baloch people, along with those of the affected families, cannot be suppressed by roadblocks or violence.”
The protest follows a similar demonstration in Karachi, where police reportedly used force to disperse protesters, resulting in several arrests. The BYC condemned the Karachi crackdown, describing it as an attempt to silence dissent.
“This marks the second protest by the BYC, following the first in Karachi, which was violently stopped by police through baton charges and arrests,” the group said.
The BYC vowed to continue its campaign, stating: ” This wave of protests against enforced disappearances—a continuation of the Baloch genocide—will persist across Balochistan. This movement stands firm despite attempts to intimidate and silence it.”