A significant rally was held in Turbat on Monday to express solidarity with the Baloch protesters staging a sit-in outside the National Press Club in Islamabad. The protest was called by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) as part of its third phase of protests.
The rally drew a diverse crowd, including political workers, human rights defenders, women, children, and students, who gathered at Shaheed Fida Chowk. Participants carried banners, placards, and pictures of individuals who have been victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
During the rally, the crowd marched through various roads of the town, chanting slogans against what they termed the “Baloch Genocide.” They voiced their strong condemnation of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the region, demanding justice.
Speakers at the demonstration highlighted that the movement against “Baloch genocide,” which began in Turbat, has now spread across Balochistan and reached Islamabad. They stated that the movement, led by Baloch women, has faced violence and arrests in Pakistan’s capital, reflecting a lack of legal justice for the Baloch people.
The speakers further emphasized that the movement, which was initiated after the killing of Balach Baloch, remains a peaceful one, despite being labeled as ‘terrorists’ by the caretaker government. They stressed that the movement seeks justice and can only be resolved through the provision of justice, not by force.
At the conclusion of the protest in Turbat, a message of unity and support was conveyed. The speakers affirmed that the Baloch mothers, daughters, and sisters protesting in Islamabad under harsh conditions are not alone; they have the backing of the entire Balochistan. They warned that any oppression or violence inflicted upon the protesters in Islamabad would prompt a strong response from Balochistan, supported by the public.
The BYC’s call for protest has led to demonstrations in various regions of Balochistan. Concurrently, the Baloch diaspora is organizing protests in several countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and Canada. These protests are calling for intervention from global entities like the United Nations to halt the ongoing “Baloch Genocide” and are requesting the UN’s presence in the region.