Amnesty International has
strongly criticized the Pakistani government for the harassment
endured by Baloch Long March protesters in Islamabad. The month-long
sit-in, led by hundreds of women who traveled approximately a
thousand miles from Turbat in Balochistan to Islamabad, aimed to
protest alleged extrajudicial killings of young Baloch men in late
2023.
The Plight of Peaceful Protesters
The
peaceful demonstrators, predominantly families of victims of enforced
disappearances, including individuals as old as 80 and children as
young as two, endured near-freezing temperatures during their sit-in
at the National Press Club, Islamabad, since December 22, 2023. The
Pakistani authorities responded with disinformation campaigns,
intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and detentions.
Carolyn
Horn, Amnesty International's Programme Director, Law and Policy,
expressed strong disapproval, stating, "The Pakistani
authorities should be ashamed of the harassment meted out to the
Baloch Long March protestors."
Denial of Rights
and Ongoing Struggle
The protestors faced a denial of
their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. This
added to the social, financial, and psychological costs borne by the
families of the disappeared. Horn emphasized that human rights must
be upheld, particularly in the lead-up to national elections in
Pakistan.
Challenges Faced by Protestors
Protest
organizer Mahrang Baloch revealed, "Over the past month, our
peaceful protest has been surrounded from all sides by police, and we
have been subjected to harassment, profiling, and threats on a daily
basis."
The authorities obstructed entry to the
'International Oppressed Peoples Conference' on January 21, and
earlier, on January 2, police prevented the supply of essential items
to protestors. Electricity to the protest site was temporarily cut
off, further hampering their efforts.
The Baloch Long March protesters were forced to end their month-long sit-in protest in Islamabad following repeated harassment by the authorities.
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) January 24, 2024
The Government of Pakistan must guarantee the right to peaceful protest across the country. https://t.co/jrR4IqEs5X
Protestors faced multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) and criminal charges, including terrorism, sedition, unlawful assembly, and damage to public property. Additionally, prominent figures, such as Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Manzoor Pashteen, have been detained despite being granted bail.
Abuses and Traumatization
Women and children were subjected to illegal detentions, with 47 women and five children held for more than 24 hours. Reports indicate attempts to forcibly transport some detainees to Quetta, thwarted only by civil society interventions.
"Some of the children with us were so traumatized that they could not stop shaking from fear," said one woman detainee.
Suppression of Media and Government Employees
Journalists, including Masood Ahmed Lehri and Fatima Razzak, faced legal action and intimidation, leading to self-censorship. Furthermore, 44 government employees in Kohlu and Turbat were suspended for participating in the Long March.
Urgent Calls for Action
Amnesty International urged the Pakistani government to end enforced disappearances, criminalize the practice, and withdraw legal proceedings against Baloch protestors. The Baloch Long March, sparked by alleged extrajudicial killings, highlights broader issues of human rights violations in the region that demand immediate attention and resolution.
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