Amnesty International has condemned the “heavy-handed police crackdown” on a peaceful Baloch protest in Karachi’s Lyari. The protest, organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was part of an awareness campaign for a national gathering in Dalbandin on January 25, marking “Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day.”
In a statement on X, Amnesty International criticized the excessive use of force by police, who reportedly detained several women protesters for hours before releasing them. Nine male protesters, including BYC Central Deputy Organizer Lala Wahab Baloch, remain in detention without formal charges.
“Pakistani authorities have intensified harassment and intimidation of Baloch activists ahead of a rally planned in Dalbandin, Balochistan, on 25 January 2025, including through criminal cases filed against the BYC leadership,” Amnesty International said, calling for the immediate release of all detainees and urging authorities to uphold the right to peaceful assembly.
The BYC also issued a statement condemning the violence. According to its central spokesperson, Baloch women, elders, and youth were subjected to “severe violence” during the Lyari gathering, with several members, including Sammi Deen Baloch, arrested alongside Lala Wahab Baloch. Women protesters were reportedly held for six to seven hours before being released, while no information has been provided about the detained men.
“The attack on Baloch women’s honor is a direct assault on Baloch national values,” the BYC said, adding that the incident reflects the Pakistani state’s and PPP government’s hostility toward the Baloch people.
The group said that the state’s violent actions are an attempt to sabotage the upcoming Dalbandin national gathering but vowed that such measures would only strengthen the Baloch resistance movement. “Seventy-seven years of atrocities have not broken the spirit of the Baloch people,” the spokesperson added.
The Lyari incident is part of a broader pattern of state repression, the BYC alleged. It pointed to recent FIRs filed against BYC Central Organizer Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other leaders for organizing peaceful gatherings in Mastung and Naseerabad, as well as internet shutdowns and other disruptions aimed at stifling mobilization efforts.
Amnesty International highlighted these concerns, noting an increase in criminal cases targeting BYC leadership and other activists. The rights group urged Pakistani authorities to refrain from arbitrary detentions and the use of unlawful force.
The BYC announced that it will launch a series of protests under the banner “Defending Baloch Values,” starting Monday. The protests will coincide with ongoing awareness campaigns and activities across Balochistan leading up to the Dalbandin national gathering.
“Despite the state’s violent tactics, the Baloch nation remains united and determined,” the BYC said. “Our struggle for justice and human dignity will continue.”