Turbat, May 1: A sit-in protest demanding the release of the bodies of Nabeel Baloch, Zakaullah, and Feroz Sarban has entered its third consecutive day in the D Baloch area of Turbat, district Kech. The protestors, comprised of the victims’ families and local residents, have blocked the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) highway, bringing all vehicular traffic to a halt and causing long queues of stranded vehicles on both sides of the road.
On the second day of the demonstration, a large number of women, children, and citizens joined the protest, raising strong slogans against the state’s handling of the situation.
According to reports, Nabeel Baloch and his companions were killed in an armed clash with Pakistani security forces, after which their bodies were taken by the forces to a military camp. The families are demanding the immediate handover of the bodies to allow proper burial in accordance with Baloch cultural and Islamic traditions.
Sources indicate that the families submitted a formal request to a magistrate for the release of the bodies, which was rejected. A subsequent meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of Kech also proved unfruitful, as he reportedly stated the matter was beyond his jurisdiction.
The protestors have vowed to continue their sit-in and maintain the highway blockade until the bodies are returned.
