A wave of anger and grief has gripped Turbat as protests continue against the alleged extrajudicial killing of Zareef Umar in Tump. Zareef was reportedly subjected to brutal torture, with his mutilated body later handed over to his family. Family sources have revealed that Zareef’s tongue was also cut out before he was brutally killed.
In response, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee called for a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike, which has paralyzed Turbat. Roads leading to and from the city have been blocked with barriers and burning tires, leaving transportation at a standstill. Businesses remain shut, and government offices have seen minimal attendance.
For the past two days, Zareef’s family and supporters have staged a sit-in at Shaheed Fida Chowk, demanding justice. Women and children are among the demonstrators, highlighting the widespread impact of state violence on Baloch households.
“This is not just about Zareef. It is about the decades of violence and injustice we have endured as a people,” said a protester at the sit-in.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, the organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, has condemned Zareef’s killing, describing it as part of a larger campaign to silence dissent in the region. “The Baloch people are subjected to systematic violence aimed at breaking their spirit. But we will not be silenced,” she stated.
Solidarity protests have also been reported in nearby towns, where demonstrators are demanding accountability for Zareef’s death and an end to extrajudicial killings in Balochistan.