Islamabad: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has strongly condemned the crackdown by Islamabad police on participants of the Aurat March held on International Women’s Day.
In a statement, BYC said that the action against peaceful protesters is unacceptable and reflects a broader pattern of restrictions on civil rights movements in Pakistan. According to the statement, members of the Aurat March had organized a peaceful protest on 8 March to demand justice and equality for women in society.
The committee stated that the arrest of peaceful demonstrators indicates that state institutions are unwilling to tolerate civic activism and freedom of expression. BYC added that women in Pakistan face various forms of social, political, and economic suppression, and the police action against the Aurat March highlights the challenges faced by women seeking to raise their voices for their rights.
BYC further said that the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful protest, and justice are fundamental rights, and restricting such activities undermines democratic values.
The organization also called on civil rights activists to raise their voices against the crackdown and urged the international community to take notice of what it described as violations of basic human rights.
