THE unfortunate winding up of the Baloch protesters’ camp in Islamabad not only marks the end of a tenacious demonstration, it also symbolises the state’s failure to engage constructively with its aggrieved citizens. For weeks, these protesters, braving harsh weather and persistent harassment from law enforcement, sought not only to draw attention to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in their province but also to appeal for dialogue and understanding. Many of the protesters were women and children demanding answers from the government about their ‘missing’ fathers, brothers or husbands. The lack of closure is a most cruel fate. But instead of empathy and engagement, they found themselves at the receiving end of batons and water cannons in freezing weather when they entered the capital of their own country, and as time went by, undue scrutiny, including from certain media workers who sought to question their loyalty.

The authorities’ approach involving intimidation, profiling and labelling of peaceful demonstrators as ‘terrorist sympathisers’ is far from what a democratic society owes its long neglected citizens. It has wounded the spirit of the protesters, making them feel alienated and unheard in their own land. The National Press Club’s controversial and later retracted letter added to the protesters’ sense of betrayal, as it seemed to prioritise logistical conveniences over fundamental rights. The decision by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee to move the protest to Quetta is a testament to their commitment to their cause. However, it also reflects a missed opportunity for the state to bridge gaps and initiate a meaningful dialogue. The state must now introspect, engage these families, and most importantly, act to address their grievances. The path to reconciliation is fraught with challenges, but it is a journey the state must embark upon with a firm commitment to justice and equity. Only then can the wounds of the past begin to heal, and a future built on mutual respect be realised.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2024