ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday assured President Arif Alvi that detained Baloch protesters will be released on the basis of their personal surety bonds.

A source in the Presidency told Dawn that following police action against scores of protesters, including women and children, who had come from Balochistan, President Alvi on Friday telephoned the caretaker prime minister and urged him to release them immediately.

According to a government committee, comprising three caretaker federal ministers, more than 90 per cent of the protesters were released on Thursday and some of them, whose identification could not be confirmed, will be released on Friday after submission of an inquiry report to the Islamabad High Court (IHC). However, many of them remained in police custody till the filing of this news report and were being told to submit personal surety bonds.

Alvi urges Kakar to order release of remaining protesters; police claim no detainee in their custody

When contacted, Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, who is a part of the government’s committee, said: “Most of them (detainees) are in the process of being released after completion of certain formalities.”

According to President House’s media wing, President Alvi and caretaker PM Kakar held a telephonic conversation and expressed concern over the inappropriate treatment of the Baloch protesters by the police.

Both the president and the caretaker prime minister viewed that the police should not have dealt with the protesters strictly, a press release said.

During the conversation, the prime minister told the president that the detained protesters were being released on personal bonds.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar also called on President Alvi and discussed the overall situation in the province as well as the police maltreatment of the Baloch protesters.

The governor said the police should show restraint towards the protesters. The two sides believed that the police should not have acted beyond their limits and powers. They also emphasised measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan.

Earlier, the governor Balochistan held a separate meeting with members of the government’s committee in which he stressed the need for early fulfillment of demands made by the protesters.

“In view of the overall situation of the region, we have to take necessary steps because we cannot afford further hatred and conflicts,” media reports quoted the governor as saying.

He said time had come when everyone, including those in power, politicians, elders of society, religious scholars and media persons should play their role for the interests of the people.

The committee members told the governor that most of the protesters had been released and those who were still in custody will be released after completion of legal formalities. When contacted, a capital police spokesperson claimed that no protester was in their custody.

Asked about those protesters who were seen in videos on Thursday night in buses, the official said they were all released at midnight. He, however, said some of the protesters were already in judicial lockup. “I can’t say anything about them [who are in jail] right now and will share update later,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2023