KARACHI: The funeral prayers of Shaheed Hamdan Baloch were held on February 25, 2026, at 2:00 pm in Lyari’s 8 Chowk, where family members, relatives and local residents gathered to pay their final respects. The occasion, however, was marked by what attendees described as renewed state repression and intimidation.
According to participants and family sources, personnel from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and other law enforcement agencies were present in plain clothes in and around the funeral gathering. They were engaged in profiling attendees and monitoring the event, creating what mourners described as an atmosphere of fear and pressure.
Family members further claimed that shortly before the funeral prayers, they were subjected to last-minute pressure to change the location. They described this as an attempt to disrupt the gathering and limit public participation.
Mourners said the presence of security personnel cast a shadow over what is traditionally considered a sacred and apolitical moment. At a time when a grieving mother was bidding farewell to her son and a father carried the body of his young child on his shoulders, attendees said that surveillance and intimidation continued unabated.
Observers at the scene questioned what threat a funeral procession could pose, stating that even in moments of collective grief, authorities appeared unwilling to tolerate public gatherings linked to politically sensitive cases.
Supporters described the funeral as more than a burial ceremony, calling it a symbol of patience, resistance and the enduring demand for justice. The silent presence of the crowd, tearful faces, and raised hands in prayer reflected both mourning and defiance, they said.
While authorities have not publicly responded to the claims, attendees maintained that the events in Lyari represent what they view as ongoing efforts to suppress dissent even in moments of sorrow.
