Crackdown on 'Baloch Raaji Muchi' Intensifies in Pakistan: Multiple Arrests Reported

Pakistani authorities have escalated their crackdown on the organizers of the 'Baloch Raaji Muchi' gathering in Gwadar. Several individuals have been detained in raids ordered by local officials. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee condemned the actions and called for the immediate release of the detained members.

Pakistani forces have ramped up their crackdown on organizers and volunteers in the lead-up to the 'Baloch Raaji Muchi' (Baloch National Gathering) scheduled for July 28 in Gwadar, as reported by The Balochistan Post. In a series of coordinated raids ordered by the Deputy Commissioner of Kalat, several individuals were detained in the Mangochar tehsil of Kalat district. The detainees have been identified as Amanullah Longove, Abdul Ahad Longove, and Abrar Ahmed Longove, who were subsequently taken to the local police station. Additional unconfirmed arrests have also been reported in Kalat.

In the Lore Karez area of Quetta's Mangochar tehsil, authorities detained Shoaib Jatak, Mubarak Jatak, and Usama Jatak. They were moved to a police station, along with a driver named Sattar Qambarani, whose current location remains unknown. Further detentions occurred Thursday night when Hafiz Aslam and Amir Rodeni were taken from their homes in Lore Karez and are currently missing. This aggressive stance by Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and local police has led to numerous detentions, road blockages, and convoy disruptions, as they aim to thwart the 'Baloch Raaji Muchi' movement.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned these actions, labeling them as state aggression against peaceful participants. They demanded the immediate release of detained individuals and held the government responsible for any harm inflicted. Despite the clampdown, mobilization efforts for the gathering continue unabated. An update on X by the BYC highlighted the resilient spirit of the Baloch people, citing large groups departing from Nushki and Chagi districts toward Gwadar.

The ongoing Baloch issue in Pakistan is characterized by severe human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detentions, and the suppression of free speech. (ANI)