QUETTA: At least nine people, including policemen, were injured after clashes broke out between police and protesters from an ethnic Baloch rights group, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, late Friday night in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, officials said.
The BYC accused law enforcement agencies of forcibly arresting its three central committee members on Wednesday and called for a protest on Sariab Road in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province which has recent witnessed a spike in separatist attacks.
The call for protest followed a clash between protesters and the police after people attempted to take away bodies of deceased militants who were killed after the Jaffar Express train hijacking last week, according to authorities. The provincial government lodged a police case against the protesters who stormed the mortuary at Civil Hospital Quetta and booked 12 protesters on Thursday.
Last week, militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) separatist group hijacked the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express passenger train in the rugged, mountainous Bolan region, with more than 400 passengers onboard. The hours-long siege ended after Pakistan launched an operation and killed 33 militants. The deadliest train assault resulted in the killing of over 30 Pakistani security personnel and civilians.
“The Baloch Yakjehti Committee blocked highways in Quetta and the police took legal action against the protesters who were blocking the roads,” Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan government, said on Friday.
“The protesters pelted stones at police and tortured policemen, injuring several cops and civilians.”
The BYC was staging a sit-in on Sariab Road with bodies of three protesters, which it alleged were killed by gunfire from the authorities.
Rind said the government was ascertaining whose bodies BYC placed in their protest: “It is impossible to know the causes of death of the bodies unless the bodies were brought to the hospital for medico-legal procedure.”
Dr. Arbab Kamran Kasi, head of Trauma Center Quetta told Arab News, they had received nine injured persons, including policemen.
“Six injured with minor wounds were discharged, two are being treated and one was referred to the Combined Military Hospital,” he shared.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a veteran human rights activist who heads the BYC, accused police of killing three protesters by shooting at a peaceful rally in Quetta.
“We called a peaceful sit-in today on the Sariab Road in Quetta but the police attacked our protesters,” she told Arab News. “Now we have camped at Sariab Road with the bodies of three slain protesters and we won’t end the protest until justice has been provided to our slain workers.”
The office of the Quetta commissioner denied reports of firing by authorities.
“No shelling was carried out by the administration during the BYC protest. No firearms or rubber bullets were used,” it said in a statement. “Only water cannons (non-lethal and safe method) were used to disperse the crowd.”
It said the administration respects the right to peaceful protest, however, lawlessness and attacks on state institutions cannot be permitted.
Amnesty International, a global human rights watchdog, voiced alarm over the reports of deaths of three protesters and nearly a dozen injuries following live ammunition fired by authorities against the protesters in Quetta, describing it as “a shocking indictment of the Pakistani authorities’ utter disregard for human life.”
“In blatant violation of the right to protest, the authorities conducted mass arrests and fired tear gas before resorting to unlawful use of lethal weapons against the unarmed protesters. Mobile networks in the city remain suspended, hindering free flow of information,” it said on X.
“Amnesty International urges the Pakistani authorities to immediately stop the reckless crackdown against the peaceful protesters and guarantee the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, in line with Pakistan’s international human rights obligations.”
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by land but its most backward by almost all economic and social indicators. For decades it has been plagued by a low-level insurgency by militants fighting for a greater share of the province’s wealth.
Separatist militants, such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) accuse the central government of denying locals a share of Balochistan’s mineral resources. The federal government and the military strongly deny these accusations, and say they have launched several projects in the province to support its development.
Violence by Baloch separatist factions, primarily the BLA, killed about 300 people last year, according to official statistics, marking an escalation in the decades-long conflict.
At least nine injured as police, ethnic Baloch protesters clash in Pakistan’s southwest
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At least nine injured as police, ethnic Baloch protesters clash in Pakistan’s southwest
- The clashes erupted during a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee rights group over the arrest of three of its key members by authorities this week
- Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land, has been the site of an insurgency for decades and has witnessed a surge in violence in recent months
International rights bodies write joint letter to Pakistani PM calling for releases of Baloch activists
- Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the leading campaigners for Baloch minority, was arrested in March on charges of terrorism, sedition
- In Balochistan, impoverished province that borders Afghanistan and Iran, security forces are battling a growing separatist insurgency
ISLAMABAD: Amnesty International along with four other human rights organizations on Wednesday wrote to the Pakistani prime minister, calling for an end to the “harassment and arbitrary detention” of Baloch human rights defenders (HRDs) exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, particularly in Balochistan province.
The letter comes in the wake of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the leading campaigners for the Baloch minority and the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and a number of other activists, being arrested in March on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder.
Security forces are battling a growing insurgency in Balochistan, an impoverished province that borders Afghanistan and Iran. Rights groups say the violence has been countered with a severe crackdown that has swept up innocent people. Authorities deny heavy handedness.
“All five organizations — Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Front Line Defenders, International Federation for Human Rights, World Organization Against Torture — appeal to Pakistan’s Prime Minister to release Baloch human rights defenders and end the crackdown on dissent in line with Pakistan’s international human rights obligations,” Amnesty Internation said on X, sharing a copy of the joint letter.
The joint letter called on the government to take the following steps:
Immediately and unconditionally release all Baloch HRDs and their family members “arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights in line with the right to liberty and safety”; drop all charges against them; pending their release, ensure the safety of HRDs and family members, including by sharing accurate information about their whereabouts, providing effective access to family members, legal counsel and medical treatment; conduct a thorough, impartial, effective and transparent investigation into the allegations of torture and mistreatment by Pakistani authorities of Baloch HRDs under detention; end the crackdown against HRDs, journalists, protesters and dissidents by ensuring their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully protected; cease all forms of reprisals against family members of HRDs; and conduct an “effective, prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the unlawful use of force” against protesters including Dr. Baloch on March 21 in Quetta and bring those suspected of responsibility to justice through fair trials.
Activists say in the crackdown against militancy in Balochistan, authorities have harassed and even carried out extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians. Pakistani authorities reject the “baseless allegations.”
A dozen UN experts called on Pakistan in March to immediately release Baloch rights defenders, including Dr. Baloch, and to end the repression of their peaceful protests. UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders Mary Lawlor said she was “disturbed by reports of further mistreatment in prison.”
Balochistan is the site of a long-running separatist movement, with insurgent groups accusing the state of unfairly exploiting Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources. The federal and provincial governments deny this, saying they are spending billions of rupees on the uplift of the province’s people.
Violent Pakistan storms trigger floods, landslides killing 10
- Strong winds, thunderstorms trigger flash floods, destroy homes in central and northern parts of Pakistan
- Storms on Saturday killed at least 14 people and injured more than 100 more across the country
Muzaffarabad, Pakistan: At least 10 people were killed and 43 injured as strong winds and thunderstorms triggered flash floods and destroyed homes in central and northern parts of Pakistan, officials said Wednesday.
Four women and a man died in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and three in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the State Disaster Management Authority said, while other officials said two died in Punjab.
“One person is still missing,” Haroon Rasheed, a senior government official in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, told AFP, adding that 12 houses and a mosque were destroyed in one village.
Storms on Saturday killed at least 14 people and injured over 100 more across the country, which is grappling with increasingly frequent extreme weather events blamed on climate change.
Stormy weather is expected to continue in northern and central parts of the country until Saturday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
Soaring temperatures in April and May are becoming more common in Pakistan, which usually sees summer begin in early June.
Temperatures reached near-record levels in April — as high as 46.5 Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in parts of Punjab.
Schools in Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces have closed early for summer vacations because of the heat.
Pakistan, Iran agree to increase number of flights for pilgrims
- Pakistan-Iran border to remain open 24 hours during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate pilgrims
- Iranian government will provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and keep their shared border open round the clock during Muharram and Arbaeen, state news agency APP reported on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran on Wednesday, where both countries made several important decisions to facilitate pilgrims and improve border cooperation.
While there is no precise official count, approximately 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims visit Iran annually for religious purposes, particularly for Arbaeen, a significant religious observance in Shia Islam, marking the 40th day after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), at the Battle of Karbala. Arbaeen is also the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain.
“The two ministers agreed that the Pakistan-Iran border will remain open 24 hours a day during Muharram and Arbaeen to facilitate religious pilgrims,” APP reported.
“Both sides also agreed to increase the number of flights for pilgrims and discussed sending pilgrims by sea.”
The Iranian government will also provide accommodation and meals for 5,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mashhad, the city most famous and revered for housing the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit the Imam Reza shrine and pay their tributes.
“To solve issues quickly, a hotline will be set up between the two countries. A special three-nation meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq will be held in Mashhad before Arbaeen to plan better arrangements for pilgrims,” APP added.
Significant pilgrimages occur in Iran, especially at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom, and the Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz.
These shrines are dedicated to revered figures in Shia Islam and are major pilgrimage destinations for Shia Muslims, including from Pakistan.
Agha and Hasan star in Pakistan’s win over Bangladesh in first T20
- Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7
- Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs
LAHORE: Skipper Salman Agha hit a career best knock and pacer Hasan Ali grabbed his first five wicket haul as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20 international in Lahore on Wednesday.
Agha struck a career-best 56 to guide Pakistan to 201-7 before Hasan took 5-30 to dismiss the tourists for 164 in 19.2 overs at Qaddafi Stadium.
The win gives the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Allrounder Shadab Khan, who also struck a quick 48, then dismissed rival skipper Litton Das for a 30-ball 48 to break a fighting 63-run stand for the third wicket that lifted Bangladesh from 37-2.
Litton hit three sixes and a boundary and had steadied the innings with Towhid Hridoy who scored 17, but the later batters could not capitalize on the platform.
Pacer Hasan ended Jaker Ali’s knock of 36 (21 balls with three sixes and a boundary), Tanzim Hasan for one and Shoriful Islam for five to cap a succesful return to international cricket after a year-long injury lay-off.
Hasan said he was happy and satisfied.
“The last eight months were very tough because it was a career-threatening injury, so I am happy to have contributed to the team’s win,” said Hasan, who underwent elbow surgery last year.
“I did hard work during the rehab and it’s a reward for that hard work,” said Hasan.
Bangladesh skipper Litton was unhappy.
“All over the game, we didn’t bowl well, bat well and field well,” said Litton. “We have to come back strongly with two games still to play.”
Earlier, Agha struck a 34-ball 56, with eight fours and a six, while Hasan Nawaz’s 22-ball 44 with four sixes helped Pakistan pass 200 after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat.
The captain, whose previous T20 best of 51 not out came against New Zealand in March, added 48 for the third wicket with Mohammad Haris and 65 for the fourth with Nawaz.
Pakistan were struggling at 5-2 after the loss of openers Saim Ayub, for a duck, and Fakhar Zaman in the first two overs.
Shadab scored a 25-ball 48 to help Pakistan add 58 in the last five overs.
All six Bangladesh bowlers were among the wickets, with left-arm seamer Islam taking 2-32 in three overs.
The remaining two matches are on Friday and Sunday, also in Lahore.
Gaza in the spotlight during Pakistani PM’s regional diplomacy tour
- Sharif is on regional diplomacy tour of Iran, Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
- Sharif has consistently spoken up for people of Gaza while visiting each country
ISLAMABAD: The leaders of Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan met on Wednesday in Lachin and called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, saying Israel’s war on the besieged enclave was the clearest example of the “crisis of legitimacy” of the international system.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev addressed a trilateral summit in Lachin and also attended a ceremony to mark Azerbaijan’s Independence Day.
“The martyrdom of innocent Palestinians must stop immediately and they must be given the right to self-determination as per the two-state solution,” Sharif said while addressing the Independence Day event.
“Freedom is a basic right and a just cause to support,” the PM said, reiterating his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Addressing the trilateral summit earlier in the day, Erdogan said the world was witnessing the international system gradually drifting into a “crisis of legitimacy.”
“The clearest example of the crisis of the international system is Israel’s relentless cruelty and expansionist policies in Palestine,” the Turkish leader said, adding that countries like Turkiye and Pakistan would continue defending the rights of the people of Gaza.
“We call on the entire world from here [trilateral summit] to increase pressure on the Israeli administration for establishing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for taking uninterrupted emergency humanitarian aid into Gaza,” Erdogan said.
Israel launched its latest air and ground war in Gaza after a cross-border attack by the Hamas group on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people by Israeli tallies, with 251 hostages abducted into Gaza. The war has killed more than 53,900 Palestinians since, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip.
The entire 2.1 million population of Gaza is facing prolonged food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death, according to the World Health Organization.
Food security groups say more than 93% of children in Gaza, about 930,000, are at risk of famine. Using satellite data, the United Nations estimated in February that 69% of the structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.
