Protest leaders in Balochistan’s Quetta have accused Pakistani security agencies of orchestrating arson attacks on government buildings and private property in an attempt to justify a further crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which has been leading the protests, claimed in a statement that plainclothes security personnel deliberately set fire to properties and opened fire on civilians on Saturday evening.
According to the BYC, the violence was part of a coordinated attempt by Pakistani authorities to falsely depict peaceful protesters as rioters.
“The state of Pakistan crossed all limits of terrorism after sunset,” the group alleged. “Their operatives, dressed in civilian clothes, set fire to buildings and shops in Quetta while opening fire on citizens—all to frame the peaceful protest movement.”
The allegations came after a day marked by repeated crackdowns by police and paramilitary forces on Baloch protesters. For four consecutive times within 24 hours, police and paramilitary personnel attacked demonstration sites—particularly a main sit-in on Sariab Road—using live ammunition, tear gas, and grenades.
Reports indicate that at least five people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the violence began. Many of those injured were reportedly struck by direct gunfire from Pakistani forces.
Dozens of demonstrators, including prominent BYC leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch, were arrested during the police actions. Eyewitnesses said that ambulances were blocked from reaching the injured, and hospitals denied medical care to protesters. Roads were sealed off, and door-to-door search operations were launched in several neighborhoods.
BYC Postpones Sit-In, Citing ‘State-Engineered Violence’
In light of these developments, the BYC announced on Saturday evening that the overnight sit-in protest in Quetta would be postponed. In a video message, senior BYC leader Sebghatullah Shah Ji urged protesters to remain home, citing concerns for their safety.
“Whatever the state is doing today — setting fires, attacking citizens — must not be blamed on the general Baloch public tomorrow,” he said. “The way state forces are harming citizens, directly firing upon them, and setting public property on fire has compelled us to postpone the sit-in.”
Mr Shah Ji emphasised that their movement remained peaceful, and appealed to supporters and international observers to raise their voices against what he described as “state brutality.”
The BYC warned that the use of plainclothes personnel to incite violence represented a dangerous attempt by authorities to criminalise peaceful protest and justify ongoing repression.
“They are damaging public property themselves to portray us as violent, so they can justify more brutality against us,” the statement added. “We were peaceful and remain peaceful.”
The group said it would determine its future course of action after assessing the situation on Sunday morning.