An attempted armed attack was reportedly foiled during a rally organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in the Hub Chowki district of Balochistan on Friday.
According to the organizers, the incident occurred during an awareness rally when suspicious individuals were intercepted, one of whom was allegedly carrying a weapon. The rally was organized to mobilize public support for the national gathering in Dalbandin on January 25, commemorating “Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day.”
Sammi Deen Baloch, a leader of the BYC, said one suspect was stopped during the rally, and further investigation revealed weapons as well as photos and videos of participants on the phones of two additional suspects.
“We reported the incident to the authorities, but no assistance was provided,” said Ms. Baloch, voicing concerns over the safety of activists and protesters. She added that the incident highlights ongoing issues of surveillance and intimidation faced during their demonstrations.
It should be mentioned that this is not not the first time such incidents have been reported. During the “Baloch Raaji Muchi” gathering in Gwadar in 2024, participants apprehended two individuals who allegedly admitted ties to intelligence agencies and were accused of disrupting the protest. Similarly, protesters in Quetta intercepted a Frontier Corps (FC) official in civilian clothes attempting to infiltrate their demonstration.
In light of the Hub Chowki incident, the BYC has called on national and international human rights organizations to intervene and ensure the safety of activists. The group has also demanded a transparent investigation into the incident and similar occurrences.
Despite these challenges, organizers remain resolute. “These threats will not deter our resolve. Our struggle will continue,” they said.