QUETTA: Hundreds of political workers, human rights defenders and members of civil society along with the family of Balach Mola Bakhsh after a long journey reached Kohlu, where a complete strike was observed on the call of Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC) to protest against his alleged extrajudicial killing on Saturday.

The BYC leaders had decided to travel from Quetta to Islamabad along with other protesters to stage a sit-in in front of the Supreme Court building after the local administration and security forces did not permit them to enter the Balochistan’s capital on their way to Red Zone area. Heavy contingent of law enforcement agencies had been deployed while roads were blocked with heavy trucks and hurdles to cordon off the area.

After ending their protest in Quetta, they left for Islamabad via Kohlu-Barkhan and Dera Ghazi Khan on Friday evening.

A large number of people expressing their solidarity with the family of Mr Bakhsh joined the marchers in Kohlu where bazaars, markets and business centres remained shut while traffic remained thin.

Addressing the marchers in Kohlu town before leaving for Barkhan, leaders said the process of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings was unconstitutional and violated basic human rights.

Marchers head to D.G. Khan on way to Islamabad

They stressed the extrajudicial killing had revived the just struggle of the Baloch people against oppression.

They lamented many youngsters were being victimised by the unjust practices of the counterterrorism department of police. They urged the state to stop unconstitutional practices and give the Baloch people the right to live and have authority over their land and resources.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2023