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Baloch Protesters Blocked from Press Club, Sit-In Continues in Islamabad
Baloch Yakjehti Committee continues peaceful protest in Islamabad amid roadblocks and police presence. Protesters, including women and children, demand justice despite heat and intimidation.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-19
Baloch Protesters Blocked from Press Club, Sit-In Continues in Islamabad

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on Saturday continued its ongoing peaceful sit-in near the National Press Club in Islamabad despite facing police blockades, rising temperatures, and threats of arrest. Protesters, including elderly citizens, women, and children, have been staging demonstrations to demand justice and basic constitutional rights.

According to reports, the road leading to the National Press Club was barricaded with barbed wire, blocking the protesters from returning to their original protest site. BYC activists claim that the authorities have denied them permission to set up tents, forcing them to protest under harsh weather without any shelter.

“We started our camp in the morning and finished in the evening because we were not allowed to erect tents,” a female protester told Dawn.com. “Now we’re not even allowed to approach the press club. They say we don’t have an NOC — it seems everyone has the right to protest except the Baloch.”

The protest follows the arrest of BYC leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch and several other organizers, who were remanded into police custody for 15 days by an anti-terrorism court in Quetta. The charges include “attacking” Quetta Civil Hospital and “inciting violence” during an earlier protest in March — allegations BYC members strongly reject.

Despite a minimal presence — estimated between 20 to 30 demonstrators — the protest has drawn heavy police deployment. Riot police with buses were seen surrounding the protest site, sparking fears of a crackdown.

Human rights advocates and politicians have condemned the government’s handling of the situation. Former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar pointed to deep-rooted grievances in Balochistan, including a lack of political representation and enforced disappearances. “There is resentment because people feel the government is not theirs,” he stated, urging a national dialogue to address long-standing issues.

Former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmed also visited the protest and called the situation alarming. “They are simply asking for their constitutional rights under Article 10A — the right to live and a fair trial,” he said. “This level of police response is unwarranted and dangerous.”

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) issued a statement reaffirming the right to peaceful protest. “The state must distinguish between advocacy for legitimate rights and militancy,” it said. “Women and children from Balochistan deserve as much dignity and protection as anyone else in this country.”

As the protest enters its fourth day, the BYC vows to continue demonstrating peacefully until their voices are heard and justice is delivered.

 
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