The Quetta police has conducted a crackdown and arrested 20 people who joined the long march against the alleged ‘extrajudicial killings’ by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Turbat, Balochistan, as it entered the city.
As per the information, the long march of the Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC), led by Mohammad Asif Laghari and originating from Balochistan, was intercepted by police on Shah Sikandar Road in DG Khan.
The police added that the participants of the march resisted, upon which they arrested several men and women and transferred them to the police lines. The women were later released.
ASP Rehmatullah Durrani, while talking to the protestors, said that, “Section 144 is in force in the district, prohibiting any procession or rally.” Whereas, the participants of the procession refused to obey the rules.
According to the police, “Police forces have detained Shaukat Ali, Asif Leghari, Miraj Leghari, Abdullah Saleh, among ten others and the legal proceedings against all of them have been initiated under Section 144.”
“Action will be taken against the violators under Section 144 of the Criminal Code, and this ban will remain in force till December 19,” says the police.
Earlier, the participants of the long march held a rally in Barkhan, which was attended by a large number of locals for expressing solidarity with the family of Balaach Maula Bakhsh.
It is to be noted that, the spokesman for BYC said that marchers, who had stayed overnight in Kohlu town departed for Dera Ghazi Khan through Barkhan, the border district of Balochistan with the Punjab province.
The spokesman added that the long procession was stopped by a heavy contingent of police in Dera Ghazi Khan. When protestors insisted on taking entry into Dera Ghazi town, where a partial strike was observed, and shops were closed, the police resorted to Baton charge.
He added that at least 20 participants of the long march, including two women, were taken into custody and shifted to an unknown location.
