QUETTA: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) activists have called off their two-week-long sit-in against the alleged enforced disappearance of an activist after successful negotiations with the authorities.

The protesters held negotiations with the government-nominated committee, headed by Quetta Division Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat, and signed an agreement on Sunday following successful talks.

BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch said the protest has been postponed for 15 days as “we have decided to resolve the issue of missing persons”.

The first round of talks held on Saturday remained fruitless, after which a second round of talks was initiated late at night.

Minister sees ‘conspiracy’ behind protest against activist’s disappearance; VBMP calls for judicial probe into police action

According to the written agreement signed by Commissioner Shafqaat, Dr Baloch and Yasmeen Abdullah, the sister of missing activist Zaheer Baloch, a case will be registered against unknown CTD officials over the disappearance.

It was decided that all cases registered against the protesters on July 11 would be withdrawn, and those arrested would be released.

However, protesters who were involved in violence would be brought to justice.

According to the agreement, the belongings of arrested protesters would be returned to them after their release. A joint committee comprising members from both sides will be constituted to recover the missing Zaheer Baloch.

The committee will submit its interim report within 15 days with mutual consultation.

It was also decided that the missing activist’s family would end their sit-in immediately and hold no demonstration till the submission of the report. The protesters also agreed not to hold any demonstrations during Muharram.

All legal requirements will be fulfilled before future protests and sit-ins, and the place and date for those protests will be decided in consultation with the local administration.

‘Pre-planned conspiracy’

PPP leader and provincial Irrigation Minister Mir Sadiq Umrani said the protest was a “pre-planned conspiracy” to disrupt peace.

Talking to the media on Sunday, he said inimical powers were trying to foment violence in the province and alleged that Israel and India were providing weapons and resources to terrorists.

While referring to the women-led protest, he said they were being “exploited by foreign forces and terrorists” to achieve their objectives.

“It is the government’s responsibility to maintain peace in Balochistan and protect the life and property of people,” Mr Umrani said and vowed the provincial government would not bow before “terrorists”.

Call for judicial probe

Meanwhile, Nasrullah Baloch, chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), condemned police actions against protesters and called for a judicial inquiry into the firing, baton charge and the use of tear gas on a BYC rally.

Speaking at a press conference along with Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer, Mr Baloch criticised the police and local administration, accusing them of turning a “peaceful protest” by the BYC into violence.

The administration’s failure to uphold promises made to BYC leadership led to widespread protests in Quetta, he said, stressing that the registration of FIRs against BYC leaders worsened the situation.

The protest, aimed at highlighting the disappearance of Zaheer Baloch, began at Burma Hotel and proceeded to Sariab Road.

According to Nasrullah Baloch, the rally turned violent near the Sariab police station when officials from seven police stations attacked the marchers with stones and tear gas, injuring several, including women.

He alleged that the arrested protesters were taken to various police stations, adding that the injured detainees were later shifted to Hanna Urak and Kuchlak police stations.

Mr Baloch refuted police and administration’s claims that the rally participants initiated the violence, alleging that it was the police officials who threw stones at the protesters.

He also alleged that police fired upon the crowd, leaving 10 at least people injured. “We demand a judicial inquiry into the violence against rally participants, including women,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2024