The Supreme Court on Wednesday, has begin the hearing of petitions against the case of enforced disappearances as several cities across Balochistan has called for the complete shutterdown strike against the ‘state oppression.’
A three-member SC bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali took up the case.
At the same time, the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee, one of the organisers of the Baloch long march against the extrajudicial killings and the enforced disappearances in Islamabad, has shared the photos, showing the clear streets as the business remained shutdown in the Gaddani, Nohski, Khuzdar, Turbat along with the other areas.
Glimpses of Shutter-Down protest on the call of Baloch Yakjehti Committee in Noshki. People have come out voluntarily to close their shopping centres in support of the Sit-In at NPC, Islamabad. #StopBalochGenocide pic.twitter.com/wMAeSlRrLA
— Baloch Yakjehti Committee (@BalochYakjehtiC) January 3, 2024
A day earlier, the Baloch demonstrators, who have been camping the freezing cold outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, made a call for the shutterdown protest across the nation after their seven day ultimatum to the government expired.
Their demands included the release of all the protesters arrested during the police action, detailed investigation into the rights violation in Balochistan, elimination of the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, release of all the victims of enforced disappearances, restriction on the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the elimination of the state-sponsored death squads.
On the last night, the BYC added that the state had failed to hold successful talks with the demonstrators and announced that a press conference would be held at 3pm today.
It also said that a large number of Islamabad police officials had arrived in front of their sit-in protest camps. It added that, “we are also concerned that they are going to crack down on us and arrest the peaceful protestors.”
Moreover, the protesters said that the police were not allowing them food, tents, sound systems and other facilities. They mentioned that, “In this chilling weather, old mothers and sisters are desperately facing harsh difficulties. Anything can happen to their health.”
