QUETTA, Feb 13: The Baloch Women’s Panel held a demonstration on Friday to protest against a ‘crackdown’ they said the government had launched in the province against activists of the Baloch Republican Party and Baloch Students Organisation.

BWP leaders Hena Baloch, Dr Azadi Baloch, Merjan Baloch and Mehzab Baloch said that Reki Baloch, Dr Yousuf Baloch, Shahaq Baloch and Aurangzeb Baloch had been arrested in Quetta and Nushki.

They claimed that three days ago personnel of some intelligence agencies had taken into custody BRP secretary-general Dr Bashir Azim and Qambar Badeni in Quetta and Sibi. Besides, they said, dozens of workers were also picked up in Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts.

The BWP leaders said that crackdowns and military operations could not suppress political movement of the Baloch, adding that injustices could only fan the hatred for the government among people.

They said that given the ‘oppressive’ attitude of the government towards the Baloch there was little hope that the situation would be normalised in the province.

They urged the Baloch political groups to extend support to the resistance movement and to those who were fighting against the ‘usurpers’ in the mountains.