A peaceful sit-in protest in Islamabad led by the families of Baloch missing persons and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) entered its fourth day today amid an intensifying state crackdown. Protesters, including women, children, and the elderly, continue to demand the release of forcibly disappeared individuals and the immediate release of BYC’s detained leadership.
On Saturday, the fourth day of the protest, Islamabad police escalated their response by sealing all roads leading to the National Press Club, where the protest was scheduled to continue. Barbed wire was installed, and heavy contingents of police personnel blocked entry to both pedestrians and vehicles.
According to eyewitnesses and protest organizers, the authorities have refused to allow the demonstrators to set up even basic shelters. Over the past four days, the protesters have endured heavy rain and scorching sun with no tents or shaded areas permitted by law enforcement.
BYC, in a strongly worded statement, condemned the blockade and alleged that this was a calculated effort to silence Baloch voices. “Preventing peaceful assembly and harassing families of missing persons is not only unconstitutional but part of a broader campaign to suppress the Baloch struggle for justice,” the statement read.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed “grave concern” over the treatment of protesters. In a statement released on Saturday, HRCP said, “These demonstrators have traveled long distances from Balochistan to peacefully demand the release of their loved ones. Denying them their constitutional right to protest is unacceptable.”
HRCP further urged the government to draw a clear line between peaceful human rights activism and “militant” activities. It emphasized that Baloch women and children deserve the same dignity and rights as all other citizens of Pakistan.
Political leaders also weighed in on the situation. Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan condemned the government’s actions, stating, “This area looks like it’s under martial law. Attempting to arrest young Baloch girls outside the press club shows the state is more afraid of the truth than any rebellion.”
He added, “End these atrocities. End enforced disappearances. Release all missing persons immediately. Listen to Balochistan’s cry for justice.”
Tensions escalated further when police brought in a bus near the protest site, raising fears among the demonstrators that they may be forcibly detained and transported back to Balochistan. Some protesters reported that the authorities threatened arrest if they did not leave voluntarily.
Despite the clampdown, several civil society activists, human rights defenders, and political workers stood in solidarity with the protesters throughout the day.
The key demands of the sit-in include:
- Immediate release of BYC’s detained leadership.
- Recovery of forcibly disappeared persons from Balochistan.
- An end to the practice of enforced disappearances.
No official statement has yet been issued by Islamabad police or the federal government regarding the protest or the roadblocks.