Balochistan [Pakistan], March 25 : In response to the call given by the Balochistan National Party-Mengal, a shutter-down strike was observed in Gwadar and other coastal cities of Balochistan on Tuesday to offer support to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee's (BYC) recent protests against a police crackdown and arrests of its leaders, Dawn reported.
All businesses, banks, shops and petrol pumps in the city remained shut to protest against the arrests and cases lodged against all BYC women leaders, including Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch.
Traders association observed a complete shutter-down strike in Ormara, a city 270 kilometres away from Gwadar. Shops remained shut in Pasni, another coastal city town at a distance of 142 kilometres from Gwadar, Dawn reported.
This shutter-down strike comes a day after the Karachi police detained BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch and several other activists during a protest against recent arrests of BYC leadership and crackdown on the Quetta sit-in.
On Friday, police used tear gas and water cannons and fired blank shots to disperse BYC protesters, who held a sit-in on the Sariab Road, against alleged enforced disappearances, including its leader Bebarg Baloch.
Both BYC and the Balochistan government reported casualties on their sides due to each other's actions. The BYC claimed that three people died and 13 others were injured while police said that around 10 of their personnel sustained injuries, Dawn reported.
The situation further escalated after Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch was arrested in the early hours of Saturday and was booked along with 150 others under terror charges.
In response to BYC's call, a shutter-down strike was observed in various cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, Kalat, Turbat, Mastung, Panjgur, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin and Dhadar.
Separately, BPN-M president Sardar Akhtar Mengal announced a long march from Wadh to Quetta on March 28 against the arrest of BYC leaders.
In a post on X, Mengal stated, "I announce a long march from Wadh to Quetta, against the arrest of our daughters and the desecration of our mothers and sisters. I will lead this march myself, and invite all Baloch brothers and sisters, young and old, to join us in this march. This is not just a matter of the arrest of our daughters, it is a question of our national dignity, our honor, and our very existence."
"We will not remain silent until our mothers, sisters, and daughters are safe. Our movement is peaceful. We have come out against oppression and injustice. And we will not stop until justice is served. Our march from Wadh to Quetta is not just a journey of steps, but a journey of conscience. He who is silent is also guilty. Now is the time for us to become one voice. Details and next steps will be shared soon," he added.
https://x.com/sakhtarmengal/status/1904256043774837004
The BYC welcomed BNP's decision to hold a long march, calling it a "commendable step." The group said that it stands in full support of every act of public struggle and mass resistance.
Taking to X, BYC stated, "We stand in full support of every act of public struggle and mass resistance. At this critical time, we believe that all political and social forces within Baloch society must embrace the path of collective resistance. Only through a unified movement we can dismantle this colonial system."
"Seeking justice within a structure built on oppression and tyranny only reinforces its foundations. True justice can only be achieved by completely uprooting the system of repression. The defeat of tyranny is possible only through sustained public resistance. The Balochistan National Party's announcement of a long march is a commendable step, and we respect this decision," it added.
https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1904293286808076638
In a separate post on X, BYC urged prominent activists, academics, artists and human rights organisations to use social media to raise awareness about the on-going Baloch genocide in Pakistan.
"We are reaching out to ask for solidarity from resistance movements across the globe. We ask prominent activists, academics, artists and human rights organisations to use social media to raise awareness about the on-going Baloch genocide in Pakistan. Share, repost and speak out against the Pakistani state's actions in Balochistan," BYC posted on X.