The sit-in outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, led by the families and relatives of Baloch missing persons and the detained leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), continued for a third consecutive day on Friday. The protestors include family members of BYC leadership and those whose loved ones have been forcibly disappeared from different parts of Balochistan.
The protestors had announced plans to set up a protest camp outside the National Press Club; however, the Islamabad administration refused permission for tent installations. Despite this, the families of the missing persons and other demonstrators braved heavy rain and continued their protest under the open sky, undeterred by the weather conditions.
Nadia Baloch, sister of detained BYC leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch, spoke about the ongoing protest, stating, “Our sit-in is still ongoing on the third day, and we have two main demands: the immediate release of BYC leadership and an end to enforced disappearances.”
She also criticized the judicial proceedings during the recent hearing of Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other BYC leaders at the Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta. Nadia pointed out, “There were serious violations of legal procedures today. The judge did not allow the lawyers to present their arguments and took charge of the case himself, yet the remand was extended.”
Advocate Iman Mazari, who is participating in the protest, condemned the Islamabad administration’s insensitivity, stating that the authorities refused to allow the families to set up tents, even as rain and heat took a toll on them. She said that as a result of the heat, an elderly woman fainted.
Pushtun leader Afrasiab Khattak visited the camp again today and expressed his solidarity with the protestors. He said, “It is our moral duty to stand in support of the legitimate demands of the Baloch people.” He said that after two days of continuous rain, the protestors now face the harsh sun because the authorities in Islamabad are not allowing them to set up shelters.
Numerous other Pushtun political leaders, civil society activists, students, and journalists also visited the camp, expressing their solidarity with the families of the detained Baloch leaders and missing persons.
The protestors have presented two key demands to the government: the immediate release of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee leadership, the cessation of enforced disappearances and arrests of political activists in Balochistan, and the safe return of all missing persons.