Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said Balochistan activist Sami Deen Baloch was arrested by Gwadar police along with several other Balochistan activists. He stressed that arresting women will not solve the problem but will only complicate the situation further.
Hamid Mir wrote in his X post, “Reports are coming in that Gawadar police have arrested @SammiBaluch.”[?] Along with other Balochistan activists. DIG Gawadar has denied her arrest. A case was filed against her a few days ago. Arresting a woman will not solve the problem. It will only complicate the situation further.”
Reports are that the Gawadar police have made the arrest.Sami BaruchAlong with other Balochistan activists. DIG Gawadar has denied her arrest. A case was filed against her a few days ago. Arresting a woman will not solve the problem. It will only complicate the situation further. pic.twitter.com/mzAEAUTG1B
— Hamid Mir PAK (@HamidMirPAK) July 29, 2024
Sami Deen Baloch is an activist known for her work advocating for human rights and freedom of expression. She has worked to raise awareness about issues affecting marginalized communities in Pakistan, including in the province of Balochistan, which has been the site of years of conflict and ongoing human rights violations.
Her work and reporting often focuses on the hardships faced by the Baloch people, including issues related to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and political repression.
Also read:- Baloch activists meet UN officials to address human rights crisis
Hamid Mir’s statement came after Pakistani security forces reportedly took tough action against participants in a national rally in Balochistan, reflecting an intensified crackdown on dissent in the country.
Several Baloch nationals were reportedly detained and arrested during the rally. The Baloch Yakuza Committee (BYC) explained the situation on social media platform X.
In a post on X, BYC said, “Security forces attacked a sit-in protest in front of Balochistan University, detaining 12 women and over 50 men. Human rights violations in Balochistan have reached an all-time high as government agencies brutally suppress peaceful voices, marking a new chapter of atrocities against the people of Balochistan. The sit-in was organised to protest against the government’s draconian measures against the Baloch Raj Muchi. Instead of receiving justice, the protesters have become victims of an oppressive regime.”
The BYC further stated that Pakistani troops opened fire on a peaceful caravan of the Baloch National Assembly (Baloch Rajya Sabha) coming from Kund Malir in Karachi, forcing it to turn around.
“Yesterday, Pakistani troops opened fire on a peaceful Baloch Rajya Sabha caravan in Kund Malir, forcing it to retreat. The caravan responded by starting a sit-in at Zero Point and will continue the blockade until they are allowed to join the Baloch Rajya Sabha in Gwadar,” the BYC noted. The crackdown has drawn heavy criticism and there are concerns that such measures will only make the situation worse rather than addressing the underlying issues.
Balochistan has a history of conflict and human rights violations. Pakistan’s Baloch ethnic minority has endured numerous injustices and acts of violence over the years, leading to ongoing unrest and activism.
The community faces severe political repression, including restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association, with activists and politicians who advocate for greater rights and autonomy for Baloch people being particularly targeted.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News X staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
