Pakistan Defence Forces threaten Baloch activists to end protests in Gwadar soon or they will be shot

Pakistan defence forces have reportedly threatened Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders that they will be shot if the sit-in in Gwadar is not ended soon, reports Balochistan Post (TBP).

Reportedly, the Gwadar protests, which were planned as a one-day event on July 28 called the Baloch National Assembly or Baloch Raji Muchi, have now been extended to eight days and are facing state violence and brutality from the Pakistani defence forces.

According to The Balochistan Post report, a government delegation warned BYC leaders, including Mehrang Baloch and Sammi Din Baloch, that they would be shot if the protests continued.

These threats were made by an officer of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), posted at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Gwadar, and has been tasked to cause harm to the sit-in in Gwadar as well as the Baloch Raji Muchi.

These threats against the top leadership of BYC are coming at a time when talks are ongoing between BYC and Balochistan authorities, but the authorities are using it as a delaying tactic to intensify their crackdown on the Baloch community.

The BYC has demanded that an FIR be filed against those who killed and injured Baloch protesters during the Baloch National Gathering (BNG). The same list of demands also demands the release of all those detained along with the BNG.

The BYC leadership has also demanded withdrawal of the FIR lodged against the participants and an assurance of no further harassment or detention and restoration of internet services.

Although authorities have said these demands would be met, recent events have escalated tensions once again, the Balochistan Post reported.

Earlier on Friday, security forces opened fire on a BYC rally in Noshki, resulting in one death and several protesters getting injured.

In another incident in Karachi, police detained several BYC protesters, including women, during a protest against Pakistan.

For now, BYC has urged people to continue peaceful protests against the brutality of Pakistan’s defence forces. Meanwhile, BYC central organiser Mehrang Baloch announced on Friday that protests and sit-ins will continue across Balochistan until their demands are fully implemented.