Baloch protesters, who had maintained a sit-in outside Islamabad’s National Press Club (NPC) since December, decided to call off their demonstration on Tuesday.
This development followed a contentious letter from the NPC to the Islamabad police, initially requesting the removal of the Baloch rights camp.
However, the NPC swiftly withdrew the request amid widespread criticism, including from within the journalist community.
The Baloch protesters, organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), had staged the sit-in to highlight issues related to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Undeterred by harsh weather conditions, the demonstrators persisted despite alleged harassment by the police, including profiling and the filing of first information reports against their supporters.
The NPC’s letter to the Islamabad police sought a plan to relocate the protesters to mitigate challenges faced by the press club, local residents, and the business community.
The NPC claimed that its primary source of income, derived from press conferences and seminars, was severely impacted by the ongoing sit-in, hindering both the club’s members and the broader community.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the protest organizers, expressed disappointment at the NPC’s stance, stating that the media community should stand with marginalized voices.
She revealed the protesters’ pressure to vacate the camp, citing alleged harassment, threats, and the circulation of false information by the police.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, in a subsequent press conference, condemned the NPC’s letter as a “stain” on journalism.
She expressed gratitude for the support from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, which stood in solidarity with the Baloch camp, acknowledging persistent harassment from local law enforcement and dismissal from government authorities.
As the Baloch protesters prepare to return to Balochistan, Dr. Mahrang Baloch emphasized that their cause was not against the state but rather an effort to communicate with authorities about the pressing issue of missing persons.
She lamented the lack of attention to this issue from political parties amid ongoing election campaigns.
