Karachi police arrest 25 Baloch Yakjehti Committee protesters during Lyari march

Published January 18, 2025
Karachi police arrest activists from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee during a rally on January 18. — Screengrab via X (@BalochYakjehtiC)
Karachi police arrest activists from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee during a rally on January 18. — Screengrab via X (@BalochYakjehtiC)

Over two dozen Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and workers were arrested on Saturday when police attempted to disperse a march in Lyari, according to police and organisers.

City Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Aziz told Dawn.com that 25 protesters were detained as they were involved in “anti-Pakistan activity”.

BYC activists alleged that police launched a “violent crackdown” and manhandled those attending the march.

“The police and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have launched a violent crackdown on peaceful Baloch citizens and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee,” the BYC said in a statement posted on X. It added that it had planned a mobilisation campaign in Liyari, leading up to an event on January 25 in Dalbandin.

“However, when BYC members and participants arrived at Miran Naka near Lyari, they were met with force, baton charges, and arrests by the oolice,” the statement added.

BYC members, including Lala Wahab Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Fouzia Baloch and Amna Baloch, were “illegally arrested”, the statement reads. It added that Sammi Deen was allegedly being harassed while in police custody and that she “escaped an assassination attempt just yesterday”.

SSP Aziz denied the BYC’s allegations.

BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch issued a video statement condemning the authorities’ response to the march and accusing them of having “attacked Baloch pride and dignity by laying hands on the veil of Baloch women”.

“Police attacked the peaceful protesters and pulled veils off their heads,” Mahrang alleged. “This is not the first time this has happened, every time the BYC plans an event in Karachi, the press club is sealed.”

She demanded the release of the arrested BYC leaders, warning that if the police continued employing heavy-handed responses to disperse marches, the BYC would lead a movement in Karachi.

Opinion

Editorial

A year later
Updated 08 Feb, 2025

A year later

A war of egos has been fought between a handful of individuals at the cost of the well-being of millions of ordinary Pakistanis.
Wheat decision
08 Feb, 2025

Wheat decision

THE federal decision to stop setting the minimum support price for wheat and cease the staple’s procurement...
Dhanmondi attack
08 Feb, 2025

Dhanmondi attack

HISTORY has shown that unless states deliver development and equal rights to all, disenfranchised people can target...
Depopulating Gaza
Updated 07 Feb, 2025

Depopulating Gaza

The least feasible "solution" is the Trumpian plan for Gaza’s ethnic cleansing and occupation, which is a non-starter.
‘Pause’ in US aid
07 Feb, 2025

‘Pause’ in US aid

THE impact of the Trump administration’s decision to ‘pause’ all US foreign aid programmes, especially those...
Mobilising opposition
07 Feb, 2025

Mobilising opposition

POLITICS makes strange bedfellows. There has not, for quite some time, been a guest list as intriguing as the one...