All detained Baloch women, children released, claims minister

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker federal government on Thursday claimed to have released all the Baloch children and women who were detained after a clash with the police in Islamabad on Thursday night.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Caretaker Privatisation Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad said that the protesters were peacefully demonstrating in front of the National Press Club for 23 days, demanding the recovery of missing persons in Balochistan.

He said that the prime minister had formed a committee to negotiate with the protesters and find a solution to the problem. The committee will present its recommendations to the prime minister soon, he said.

The caretaker minister alleged that some local people, who had covered their faces, tried to worsen the situation by pelting stones at the police. He said that the police had to take some steps to avoid a major loss and maintain law and order.

Fawad Hassan said that none of the people who came from Balochistan did anything wrong and they were released immediately after being identified. He said that some people who were named in the FIR are being investigated and the government will report on their status by tomorrow.

He said that the government respects the right to peaceful protest, but it should be done according to some rules and laws. He said that the Islamabad administration and police were providing full security to the protesters until the incident.

He said that the former chief minister of Balochistan, Abdul Malik Baloch, had also requested the caretaker prime minister to find a solution to the problem.

Earlier, Islamabad police used tear gas and baton to disperse the protesting Baloch people including women and children and arrest scores of them including Mahrang Baloch, who had been leading the long march from Turbat to Islamabad.

IHC seeks report from Islamabad police IG on detention of Baloch protesters

Mahran Baloch and other Baloch protesters are demanding the recovery of missing persons from Balochistan, who have been allegedly abducted, tortured, and killed by the security forces.

They demand the end to human rights violations and atrocities committed by the state against the Baloch people, such as extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate beatings, and opening fire on civilians.

They demand the release of political prisoners who have been sentenced to death or detained without fair trials.