Pakistan

Police disperse BYC protesters in Karachi, take key members into custody – Pakistan

Karachi police on Monday dispersed protesters and arrested key members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) as the group held a protest against the recent arrests of its leadership and a crackdown on its Quetta sit-in.

The BYC had announced a protest at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the “illegal detention” of its key leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch who was arrested on Saturday along with 16 other activists from their protest camp in Quetta, a day after claiming that three protesters had died due to police action.

Subsequently, in a notification dated today, Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi imposed a ban on all types of gatherings across the city under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

As BYC supporters tried to reach the KPC, they were intercepted by the police at the Fawara Chowk, where they were met with resistance by the law enforcers.

After an hour-long protest, police began dispersing the demonstrators and took Sammi Deen Baloch and other BYC supporters into custody.

Karachi police try to detain participants of a BYC protest on March 24, 2025. — Shahzeb Ahmed

BYC supporter Sadaf Ameer, who alleged her father Ameer Bakhsh had been forcibly disappeared, told Dawn.com: “Before the protest even began, a heavy police contingent came and subjected us to torture.

BYC supporter Sadaf Ameer speaks at a protest near Fawara Chowk, Karachi on March 24, 2025. — Shahzeb Ahmed

“They arrested and took away Sammi Deen Baloch and others,” Sadaf added, noting they had come to demand the release of Mahrang, Bebarg and others.

“We came peacefully and we were protesting peacefully, but the state cannot accept us protesting peacefully. This is why the state has been violent with us and has taken Sammi Baloch and others.”

In a statement earlier today, the Karachi Traffic Police said: “Both roads from Din Muhammad Wafai Road to MR Kiani Chowrangi towards Fawara Chowk have been closed for traffic.

“Local police have closed the road due to security,” the statement added.

It continued that alternative traffic routes had been devised from MR Kiani Chowrangi towards Court Road, Thana Gali towards Sarwar Shaheed Road and Fawara Chowk towards Zainab Market.

The public was requested to call Traffic Helpline 1915 for alternative routes to avoid any inconvenience.

According to a post on X, the BYC protest in Karachi was scheduled for 4pm and was organised in collaboration with civil society members, while a protest in Quetta was scheduled for noon.

On the other hand, two separate counter-protests were held in the nearby area, where participants held placards and chanted slogans against the BYC as well as the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

However, it was unclear under what arrangements the counter-protests were organised despite the imposition of Section 144.

One such protest was being held outside the KPC, with participants holding placards reading “a link to RAW: BLA and BYC”, referring to India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing.

Demonstrators hold placards against the BLA and the BYC outside the Karachi Press Club (KPC), on March 24, 2025. — Shahzeb Ahmed

Demonstrators hold placards against the BLA and the BYC outside a petrol pump near Zainab Market, Karachi, on March 24, 2025. — Shahzeb Ahmed

More people gathered at a petrol station near the Zainab Market, with one of the placards reading “two sides of the same coin — BLA and BYC”.

Some banners carried by protesters at the Fawara Chowk mentioned the Pakistan Ulema Council as the organiser.

Another demonstration was also held to show solidarity with the armed forces near Zainab Market. Videos of the protest showed protesters chanting slogans against the BYC leadership as well as BLA.

Pakistan Ulema Council protesters carry placards against the BYC and the BLA, at Fawara Chowk, Karachi on March 24, 2025. — Shahzeb Ahmed

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn.com, “Some people were organising a counter-protest at Fawara Chowk; they were dispersed. Nobody is being allowed to organise public protests or assemblies
in the light of notification by Commissioner Karachi.”

The Karachi commissioner on Monday imposed Section 144 across the city “in view of the prevailing law and order situation”, according to a notification.

The notification came in response to a recommendation made by Karachi South Zone Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Syed Asad Raza to the commissioner on Sunday.

Today’s notification by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi read that under Section 144, he had imposed a “complete ban on any types of protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies and assembly of more than five persons within the Karachi division with immediate effect for March 24, 2025.”

In his recommendation on Sunday, DIG Raza had said that “in the context of [the] present law and order situation in the city, it is required that [the] ban may be imposed in South Zone on protests, demonstrations, sit-ins and rallies” being held on major roads, which would result in traffic jams and posed “grave security threats”.

It had further said that in view of the prevailing law and order situation, “it is essential that necessary measures be taken to protect the participants, the public and the integrity of the event”.

“It is therefore requested that [a] ban on any type of protest, demonstrations, sit-in rallies and assembly of more than five persons may kindly be imposed within the limits of South Zone under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code from March 24 to 31, 2025.”

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