QUETTA: Over a dozen people, including six policemen, were injured and 27 people, including five women, were arrested on Thursday in clashes between supporters of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and police during a rally organised for the recovery of missing students.

Over a dozen police vehicles were damaged as police lobbed tear gas and batton-charged BYC supporters. Firing was also reported during the clashes. The clashes began when police tried to push BYC supporters from the Red Zone area where the protesters wanted to stage a sit-in.

Supporters of BYC had been protesting by staging a sit-in camp for over a week in Sariab area against the disappearance of Zaheer Baloch and other Baloch missing persons.

However, on Thursday, the protesters marched on several roads of Quetta and tried to move to the Red Zone to stage their sit-in there which triggered clashes.

At a late-night press conference, Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said that Zaheer Zeb Baloch, who disappeared a few days ago, is the brother of banned BLA commander Bashir Zeb Baloch, who was involved in Mach, Gwadar attacks and kidnapping of picnickers from Shaban area. He also claimed that Zaheer Zeb Baloch is not in the custody of any state institution.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahrang Baloch, Central Organiser of BYC, said in a video on social media that the family of Zaheer had been protesting on Sariab Road for many days, butthere was no response from the government. Subsequently, they decided to move towards the Red Zone on Thursday.

“The participants of the rally were attacked, baton-charged and fired upon, resulting in severe injuries to protesters. Two of the injured are in critical condition at the Civil Hospital’s trauma centre,” she said, adding that six female protesters have been arrested and taken to the Civil Line Police Station. They have since been moved to an unknown location from there.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2024