More than 100 prominent civil society leaders have written an open letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that seeks the release of the leaders of the Balochjehti (Byc) committee (byc) imprisoned, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch and others.
Last Friday, the police used tear gas and water cannons and fired blank to disperse by the bystants of Byc, who had staged a sitting on the Sariab road near the University of Baluchistan, against alleged forced disappearances, including their leader Bray Baloch. The provincial government and the Byc had reported victims on their respective sides as a result of the actions of the other.
The situation intensified even more when the byc chief organizer Mahrang was arrested in the early hours of Saturday and was reserved under terrorist positions along with another 150. Responding to the call of Byc, the closed strikes were organized during the weekend in several cities of Baluchistan, including Quetta, Panjgur, Kalat Dalbandin and Dhadar.
Police also arrested the leader of Byc Sammi under the maintenance of the public order ordinance (MPO) in Karachi on Tuesday, shortly after a judicial magistrate ordered his release, along with four other activists in a case related to the violation of Section 144.
“We, the subigned citizens of Pakistan, we urge you to take immediate measures to free Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Baloch and other leaders arrested from the Balochjehihi Committee Dawn.com.
“Its arrests are a shameless attempt to silence the voices that advocate for the end of forced disappearances and fundamental rights and justice for the people of Baluchistan,” the letter continued.
The letter expressed alarm for the treatment of activists at the hands of the agencies of application of the law and denounces the deployment of “excessive force” against peaceful protesters.
The signatories are outstanding educators, politicians, journalists and human rights activists, including Senior Hamid Mir journalist, former Afrasiab Khattak senator, Human Rights Watch Asesia Asia Saraop Ijaz division and the president of the Human Rights cells of PPP, Farhatullah Babar.
The signer’s demands include the immediate release of the BYC detainees, the end of the forced disappearances, the beginning of a significant political dialogue with the Baloch people and investigate the alleged police brutality against activists through independent investigation.
The letter also condemned the “unstrapping reset of byc leaders”, including women’s activists, adding that “the MPO is being abused in a clear violation of due process to stop activists after the courts have granted bail.”
“Continuous repression against peaceful protests, forced disappearances and extrajudicial murders in Baluchistan have created a climate of fear and repression,” said the letter.
“The situation in Baluchistan is serious, and denying a political dialogue will only deepen the crisis,” he added.
The letter claimed that the actions of government security agencies in Baluchistan are raising serious concerns about human rights violations, and adds that “by denying people the right to freely protest, the Government is violating the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the UN, which guarantees the right to freedom of the Assembly and the Association.”
Talking with Dawn.com With regard to the letter, the journalist and one of the signatories, Munizae Jahangir, said: “We are writing this letter just before EID, since these women would like to spend time with their children. Some humanity has to prevail in this situation.
“We also believe that this crisis can climb, and the steps must be taken to avoid this possibility,” he said, adding that the state of marginalized communities should be seen.
“We appeal to the prime minister of sanity that prevails and, since he is a political leader and not a military dictator, [he should] Use the good political will that has to initiate a dialogue not only with the members of the Provincial Assembly, but also the leaders outside the Assembly, such as Sardar Akhtar Mengal and the former Baluchistan Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, “he concluded.
While Baluchistan fights with a relentless wave of mortal attacks against security forces and civilians, the provincial government on Friday indicated his willingness to work with the opposition to face spiral violence and address the growing security challenges of the province.
“Our doors are always open for the dialogue in the interest of Baluchistan, since the government is committed to solving the problem through significant conversations,” said Baluchistan government spokesman Shahid Rind, while speaking at a press conference along with provincial ministers.
He said that the prime minister is committed to solving problems through dialogue and has extended an offer to the opposition to work together to address the challenges of the province. “The provincial government is in contact with the opposition parties and their leaders in this regard,” he added.
On Thursday, the Pakistan Human Rights Commission in collaboration with civil society, including human rights defenders, labor rights activists, political activists, academia and lawyers, also demanded an unconditional release from Mahrang, Sammi and all those detained after recent protests.
On the same day, the International Organization of Human Rights Amnesty International observed in a statement that the “relentless repression of Baloch activists during the last week and the continuous detention of several protesters, including Mahrang, Sammi and B drinking, mean a” systematic attack “on the rights of the Baloch community and should stop.
