Is Pakistan's Violent Crackdown on Peaceful Protestors in Balochistan Justified?

Quetta, July 1 (NationPress) Human rights advocates from Balochistan reported on Tuesday that Pakistani security forces, including the Frontier Corps (FC) and police, have initiated a brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors in D-Baloch, located in the Kech district of Balochistan, during the sixth night of their ongoing protest against the closure of the Abdohi border.

“In the cover of darkness, security forces invaded the protest encampment, assaulted peaceful demonstrators, and discharged weapons indiscriminately. A minimum of 14 protestors have been detained. The demonstrators, consisting of local traders, laborers, and civilians, have been peacefully advocating for the reopening of the Abdohi border, which is vital for the local economy. The border has been shut since March 19, causing severe damage to livelihoods and driving the indigenous population into despair,” stated the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights organization from the region.

The BYC criticized the Pakistani authorities, asserting that instead of addressing their valid economic concerns, the government has resorted to “brutality and suppression.”

Recently, the organization condemned the continuous closure of the Abdohi border by Pakistani authorities, labeling it as a method of economic exploitation by Islamabad.

The BYC disclosed that the ongoing closure has severed a crucial source of income for hundreds of families in Balochistan, and with no alternative means of livelihood and escalating economic hardship, communities are facing hunger and uncertainty.

Last week, local traders, laborers, and civilians initiated a peaceful sit-in protest, pledging to persist in their demonstrations until the border is reopened and their economic survival is guaranteed.

The BYC emphasized that Pakistani authorities have attempted to stifle the protest by deploying baton charges and force to intimidate and disperse the demonstrators, rather than engaging in constructive dialogue.

Notwithstanding these challenges, the rights organization affirmed that the protestors remain steadfast in their demands for an end to policies that systematically marginalize them.

“The extended closure is not merely a logistical concern but part of a broader strategy of control, wherein economic pressure is wielded as a means of subjugation. In Balochistan, where corruption and underdevelopment are already significant barriers to opportunity, the border closure has precipitated a humanitarian crisis affecting all, leading to increasing frustration,” remarked the BYC.

Calling upon authorities to urgently reopen the border, the BYC urged respect for the rights of citizens and an end to the use of force against peaceful protests. They also warned that ignoring these demands could exacerbate resentment and resistance among a populace already pushed to their limits.