ISLAMABAD: Roads around the National Press Club are closed to prevent Bloch women protesters from entering the vicinity, inconveniencing the residents of F-6 where the NPC is located, Dawn has learnt.

The officials of the capital police and administration have categorically refused to talk over the mater. However, some of them shared details on condition of anonymity that the roads around the National Press Club, including Street 38, a lane of Garden Road adjacent to the club and China Chowk Underpass were closed for the traffic to keep the Baloch protesters away from the press club.

A group of Bloch women are staging sit-in a few kilometres off the NPC over Baloch missing persons for the last couple of weeks, and roads were blocked to stop them to reach the NPC.

The capital police have closed the roads by placing barbed wires and barricades.

Police contingents, including anti-riot unit, were also deployed around the club. Besides, more contingent was deployed in nearby area and sectors to deal with any situation.

After the road blockade, diversion is given to the motorists to reach their destination by using alternative routes.

Meanwhile, the Bloch women at a news conference on Saturday narrated their agony, they had been facing in Islamabad for the last 10 days.

They said they were staging peaceful protest for the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s leadership. The family members of all the missing persons from Balochistan are also part of the campaign, launched from the NPC on July 16, but they were not allowed to instal camp and hold news conference.

They said when they were not allowed to set up their camp they chose a vacant land to stage a sit-in but the police forced the landlord to get his land vacated. The police also raided at them and got the CNIC and photos of students and now harassing us.

They said according to the Article 21 of the United Nation’s charter every persons has a right of peaceful protest and express their opinion under Article 19.

They demanded immediate release of Balochs, end to illegal arrest of political workers and enforced disappearances. They vowed to continue protest and the sit-in till acceptance of their demands.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2025