Karachi (Monitoring Desk): The National Democratic Party (NDP) has strongly condemned the actions of the Karachi police, calling the act of forcibly removing Baloch women’s headscarves an unethical and unacceptable practice.
During a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, NDP’s Central Organizer, Shahzaib Baloch Advocate, along with other party members, addressed the media. They criticized the Pakistani authorities for arresting Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her associates under false charges and detaining them under the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) law. Following these arrests, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) organized protest sit-ins across various cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, which received significant support from democratic circles.
Shahzaib Baloch stated that instead of responding to these peaceful demonstrations in a democratic manner, the authorities resorted to the use of excessive force against protesters. He highlighted the crackdown in areas such as Hub, Panjgur and Quetta, where security forces used water cannons, tear gas, and live ammunition to suppress protests. Additionally, the arrest of Imran Baloch by Hub police further fueled tensions.
On March 24, before BYC’s scheduled protest at the Karachi Press Club, several key political activists, including BYC’s Deputy Central Organizer Lala Abdul Wahab Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch, were unlawfully detained. The police also resorted to pulling off women’s headscarves, an act NDP condemned in the strongest terms, labeling it an outright display of state brutality and disrespect for Baloch cultural values.
Shahzaib Baloch further warned that the state is aggressively implementing a hardline policy against the Baloch and other oppressed nations. He raised concerns about the potential misuse of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to further suppress freedom of speech, which would not only harm political activists but also restrict independent journalism.
The NDP reaffirmed its commitment to democratic and political struggle, emphasizing its mission to secure the rights of oppressed nations, ensure control over Balochistan’s resources, and promote social and gender equality. However, he warned that the continued oppression of Baloch political activists could have severe consequences, which would not be in the interest of any party involved.
Addressing the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances, he revealed that the Balochi poet and NDP activist Nabeel Nowd Baloch was forcibly disappeared from Gwadar just yesterday. He noted that this alarming trend of state abductions is reaching new heights, further deteriorating the human rights situation in Balochistan.
The press conference concluded with NDP demanding the immediate release of all detained Baloch activists, including:
- Dr. Mahrang Baloch
- Lala Abdul Wahab Baloch
- Sammi Deen Baloch
- Bibarg Baloch
- Nabeel Nowd Baloch
- Nasir Qambrani
- Dr. Hameel Baloch
- Imran Baloch
The NDP organizer also called for legal action against those responsible for the violent suppression of protests and urged human rights organizations to take notice of the worsening situation in Balochistan.
