At least three people have been killed and many others were injured when protesters clashed with security personnel in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province following a sit-in for the rights of Baloch people in Gwadar city, media reports said on Monday.
The sit-in organised by the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) began on Sunday even as scores of people, including 14 persons in Mastung, were injured in clashes with security personnel. The BYC is holding a demonstration for the rights of the people of Balochistan province and the safeguarding of its natural resources.
Although the authorities set up roadblocks at several places leading to Gwadar, a large number of people still managed to gather at Marine Drive for the rally named the ‘Baloch Rajee Muchi’ (Baloch National Gathering), the Dawn newspaper reported. Clashes were reported with security personnel at some checkposts and near Gwadar as protesters started arriving at the Marine Drive.
There were also reports of protesters attacking checkposts in some areas, forcing security personnel to use tear gas shells and rubber bullets. Till Monday, at least three people died in the clashes while around 28 have been injured, hospital sources confirmed. Three dead bodies at the government hospital in Gwadar besides eight others injured, they said.
On Saturday evening, security forces opened fire during clashes, injuring 14 persons in Mastung. Four others were injured in Turbat on Sunday. Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove and provincial spokesperson Shahid Rind were unavailable for comments due to a communications blackout in many parts of Balochistan.
Later, addressing the gathering in Gwadar, BYC leader Dr Mahrang Baloch and others vowed not to abandon their struggle for the rights of the Baloch people and the protection of the province’s resources. Authorities said life has been derailed in many parts of the province since Sunday with roads and highways leading to Gwadar and Quetta blocked by protesters or security personnel.
A complete shutter-down strike was also observed in Mastung, Kalat, Noshki, Khuzdar, Noshki, Dalbandin, Awaran, Lasbela, Chagai, Nokundi, Gwadar, Turbat, and Pasni over the incident of firing. Separately, Amnesty International urged the Pakistani authorities to immediately lift the internet shutdown in Balochistan and fulfil its obligations under domestic and international human rights law to facilitate people’s right to peaceful protest by lifting the road blockades on the way to Gwadar, allowing freedom of movement for protesters.
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