Preparations are nearly complete in Dalbandin for a public gathering on January 25, organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) to commemorate “Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day.”
The gathering is expected to draw attendees from across Balochistan, aiming to protest against “repressive state policies” and “ongoing atrocities” in the region.
Despite an ongoing internet blackout in Nushki, Dalbandin, Chagai, and Kharan, convoys of participants, including families of the disappeared, have begun arriving from remote areas of Balochistan.
Observers note similarities with last year’s “Baloch Raaji Muchi” gathering in Gwadar, where authorities reportedly cut off digital connectivity before a “heavy-handed” crackdown on organizers and attendees.
‘Baloch from Afghanistan and Iran Are Attempting to Attend’
Gulzadi Baloch, a central BYC leader, told media that Baloch families, including relatives of the disappeared, are traveling long distances to reach Dalbandin. She said Baloch people from Afghanistan and Iran are also trying to attend, despite roadblocks and other reported obstacles.
She recalled the violence during the “Baloch Raaji Muchi” in Gwadar, when authorities allegedly used force against demonstrators, including targeting Baloch women.
“Today, the state is attempting a similar approach,” she warned, adding that if any sabotage occurs, the response will be severe. “The Baloch have never bowed down and never will.”
Internet Shutdown and Risk of Crackdown
Reflecting on past incidents in Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan, BYC members claim that cutting mobile networks often precedes a state-led clampdown on peaceful gatherings.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, the BYC’s central organizer, recently criticized these measures, calling them deliberate attempts to “silence voices.”
“This approach is not unprecedented,” she said, referring to the “Baloch Raaji Muchi” in Gwadar. “Authorities disabled internet services, followed by a targeted crackdown on the event’s organizers and participants.”
In a recent video message, Dr. Mahrang said that thousands of people have already arrived in Dalbandin, including families of those who have disappeared. She praised the “courageous and hospitable” people of Dalbandin for offering shelter and appealed to residents in Kharan and Nushki to guide and support incoming convoys.
Dr. Mahrang added, “Shutting down networks and resorting to crackdowns will not weaken us. These actions have never worked in the past, and they will not work now.”
Calls for Peaceful Assembly, Yet Tension Persists
According to Gulzadi Baloch, the Dalbandin gathering aims to honor the memory of Baloch victims of what the BYC describes as “the ongoing genocide of the Baloch,” while emphasizing that it is a peaceful event.
She alleged that Pakistani authorities are obstructing the rally through road closures, distributing pamphlets warning locals against attending, and deploying Frontier Corps (FC) in the area.
She cautioned that the Baloch people will not be intimidated. “We have carried enough coffins and seen enough bloodshed,” she said. “Do not sabotage our peaceful gathering, or the repercussions will be severe.”
Pakistani Officials have not commented on the alleged efforts to impede the event or the internet disruption. However, observers and human rights groups have noted a broader pattern of restricting information and intimidating activists ahead of major Baloch public gatherings and protests.
In a recent statement, Amnesty International said Pakistani authorities have intensified harassment and intimidation of Baloch activists in the lead-up to the January 25 rally in Dalbandin, including reportedly filing criminal cases against BYC leaders.
The human rights organization called on officials to respect the right to protest and refrain from “arbitrary detentions, use of unlawful force, and criminal cases against organizers and participants of peaceful assemblies.”