Twitter is in anger over the Sindh Police’s brutal treatment of protestors demonstrating against missing Baloch students outside Sindh Assembly.
Karachi police on Monday manhandled and detained 28 protesters, including females, who were demonstrating near the main gate of the Sindh Assembly against the alleged abduction of two Baloch students of the University of Karachi (KU) by law enforcement agencies.
The situation turned tense when the police began using force to disperse the protestors. South-SSP Asad Raza, while talking to the media, denied that the protestors were treated roughly. However, videos surfaced on social media showing police dragging and beating the protestors with batons. Female protestors were also brutally treated.
Read more: Why are the Baloch people angry?
On the other hand, the missing Baloch students Doda Ellahi and Ghamshad Baloch have returned home. However, law enforcement’s heavy-handed approach to seemingly peaceful protesters has gone viral on social media as people call for action to be taken against police brutality.
Citizens condemn Sindh police
Shireen Mazari, the former minister for human rights, deemed the actions of law-enforcement agencies “barbaric”, stating such police action is “shameful and condemnable.”
Barbarism at its peak. Shameful & condemnable. #BalochLivesMatter @sakhtarmengal u are part of the ruling cabal so why the silence now? https://t.co/trexDcgrCr
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) June 13, 2022
Meanwhile, Farhatullah Babar, a former senator, harshly criticised the tactics, stating that the police used “disproportionate force” to arrest women ” against allegedly illegal abductions of their family members.”
The former lawmaker deemed the actions “highly disturbing” expressing hope that the missing students are recovered safely.
Use of disproportionate force and arrest of women by police in Karachi for protesting against allegedly illegal abductions of their family members is highly disturbing.
Hope the disappeared are recovered safely and the arrested women released without delay— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) June 13, 2022
Interestingly, Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, advisor to the CM Sindh on law and administrator of Karachi also condemned the police action.
“PPP believes in this fundamental right and police must deal with such issues with empathy,” he stated. However, the official said that the protesters should have considered “confining their protest to the area around the press club.”
Police action on peaceful protesters was wrong & condemnable. PPP believes in this fundamental right & police must deal with such issues with empathy. Protesters may also consider confining their protest to the area around press club which has been reserved for peaceful protests
— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) June 13, 2022
On the other hand, Ammar Ali Jan, a member of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement questioned PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz’s silence on the police brutality against Baloch protestors. When PML-N was in opposition, Maryam Nawaz had been very vocal about the enforced disappearances of the Baloch people.
In opposition, @MaryamNSharif joined sit-in of Baloch students in front of Punjab Assembly. @BBhuttoZardari raised issue of abductions in human rights committee.
Today, Sindh govt arrested protestors who raised voice against abductions while Maryam remained silent. Shameful!
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) June 13, 2022
Enforced disappearances have been happening across Pakistan for the last 20 years, with Baloch people especially being targeted. However, following the recent terror attack on the Confucius Institute in Karachi University by a Baloch woman from the Baloch Liberation Army, a new wave of enforced disappearance has begun. This time around, Baloch women are also fearing a crackdown.
Read more: Why Pakistan should take its baloch citizens more seriously?