According to police and organizers, more than two dozen Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and workers were arrested on Saturday when police tried to disperse a march in Lyari.
City Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Aziz said. dawn.com that 25 protesters were arrested for participating in “anti-Pakistan activities.”
BYC activists alleged that police launched a “violent crackdown” and mistreated marchers.
“The police and law enforcement agencies (LEA) have launched a violent crackdown against peaceful Baloch citizens and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee,” the BYC said in a statement published on X. It added that it had planned a campaign mobilization in Liyari, prior to an event on January 25 in Dalbandin.
“However, when the BYC members and participants reached Miran Naka near Lyari, the police cracked down on them with force, baton charges and arrests,” the statement added.
The BYC members, including Lala Wahab Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Fouzia Baloch and Amna Baloch, were “illegally arrested”, the statement said. He added that Sammi Deen was allegedly being harassed while in police custody and that she “escaped an assassination attempt just yesterday.”
SSP Aziz denied the BYC allegations.
BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch issued a video statement condemning the authorities’ response to the march and accusing them of having “attacked Baloch pride and dignity by laying hands on the veil of Baloch women”.
“The police attacked the peaceful protesters and removed their headscarves,” Mahrang alleged. “This is not the first time this has happened, every time BYC plans an event in Karachi, the press club is closed.”
He demanded the release of arrested BYC leaders and warned that if the police continued to use harsh responses to disperse the marches, the BYC would lead a movement in Karachi.
