KARACHI: Police on Monday registered a terrorism and sedition case against 19 activists of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), including three women, for allegedly chanting “slogans against national institutions” during a rally in Malir on Sunday.

The Sharafi Goth police lodged an FIR on behalf of the state under Sections 123 (condemnation of the creation of the state, and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty), 124-A (sedition), 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act..

Sammi Deen Baloch, Fauzia Baloch and Amna Baloch are among 19 activists named in the FIR. Eight of them had been arrested, the police said.

According to the FIR, the BYC had staged a rally without permission from Malir district administration. The rally participants ‘violated laws’ while speakers delivered anti-government speeches and “instigated around 200-250 participants for chaos, sedition and terrorism”.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2025