GWADAR: After evading the police for almost two weeks, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, the chief of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT), was arrested on Friday in Gwadar.

Mr Rehman, who led the months-long demonstration in the port city, was wanted by the police in several cases, including the murder of a policeman who was killed when law enforcement agencies launched an operation to disperse the HDT sit-in in December.

Mr Rehman was arrested from the premises of a court where he had reportedly arrived to surrender, along with two other activists, Nasibullah Nusherwani and Hassan Murad.

According to Gwadar SSP Najeebullah Pandrani, FIRs were registered against Mr Rehman and other activists under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-terrorism Act.

Hidayatur Rehman had appeared to ‘surrender’, seek bail

The lawyers present inside the courtroom protested against the police action and said the HDT chief was arrested before appearing in the court to surrender.

The arrest before Mr Rehman’s appearance in the court was against the law, said Gwadar District Bar Association Presi­dent Meraj Ali.

Mr Ali added that the HDT chief arrived to surrender and apply for an interim bail and the arrest was akin to denying him his right to seek bail.

Calling the police action “contempt of court”, Mr Ali requested the district court to take notice of the arrest.

Talking to the media after his arrest, Mr Rehman condemned the cases registered against HDT leaders and activists.

He claimed the HDT leaders and activists were booked and arrested for seeking their due rights which included demands to get rid of illegal trawling in Balochistan’s waters, free and fair atmosphere for the border trade and provision of water, electricity and health facilities.

“Our protest was completely peaceful and it was the police and local administration that used force gainst the peaceful participants of the sit-in and rallies,” he added.

He accused the police of torturing women during the operation and added that during the raid at his house, his mother was also subjected to atrocity.

“They wanted to kill me and after the operation cases were registered against me and many others who had taken part in the peaceful demonstrations and rallies,” he claimed.

He also alleged that a large number of HDT supporters have been arrested while Hussain Wadila and some leaders were shifted to Quetta and handed over to the crime branch to torture them.

He claimed the killing of the cop was a “conspiracy” to defame the peaceful movement.

He said security forces launched a crackdown in Gwadar to please the mafias involved in illegal trawling and drug business in Makran division.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2023