BYC Condemns Media Silence Amid Balochistan Communication Blackout

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee decried the internet blockade and imposition of Section 144 in Balochistan by Pakistani forces. The blackout has obscured the extent of violence and casualties at Talaar Checkpost. BYC urged international media to cover the human rights violations and deteriorating situation.

As Pakistani defense forces initiated an internet blackout and enforced Section 144 in Balochistan, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) expressed concerns about the unknown scale of injuries and fatalities resulting from the military's violent actions. The situation has worsened during the Baloch National Gathering with a continuing information blackout.

The BYC voiced its alarm via a post on 'X', highlighting the impossibility of assessing the impact on the Baloch community. According to the post, the complete communication blockade has made it difficult to determine the actual number of casualties and injuries at the Talaar Checkpost. The statement revealed that on July 27, one person was killed, and several were injured from direct military fire. On July 28, eight participants were reported injured, and two killed, with hundreds of vehicles damaged and confiscated.

The BYC stated that 32 participants were detained in the Central Jail of Turbat, and four were held in city police lockup. Additionally, 40 identified individuals are in the custody of the Frontier Corps, with the number of unidentified detainees unknown. The human rights violations have received no national media coverage. The BYC has called on international media to report on Balochistan's state of war and the severe human rights abuses by Pakistani forces.

The committee emphasized, "Balochistan has become a war-torn region, and the Pakistani state is using all its machinery to halt peaceful gatherings, committing egregious human rights violations." They criticized the silence of Pakistani mainstream media over the past 48 hours of the crisis, labeling it a shame for the journalistic community. The BYC appealed to global media to respect journalistic values and cover the dire situation in Balochistan, including the curfew in Gwadar and the severe oppression by the Pakistani state.

(With inputs from agencies.)