Following reports of Pakistani forces opening fire on protesters during the Baloch National Gathering, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee has described the situation in Gwadar as “extremely tense and dangerous,” asserting that the region is under complete siege.
“The situation in Gwadar is dire. Thousands of military personnel have brutally attacked the #BalochNationalGathering, firing directly on unarmed participants, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries,” the Baloch Yakjehti Committee stated in a Monday release.
The rights group accused the Pakistani military of sealing off Marine Drive and conducting a “brutal crackdown” on protesters, including abductions and torture. “The military has sealed Marine Drive from all sides and is engaging in a brutal crackdown against participants. Ambulances are being denied access to the injured, and participants are being illegally abducted and tortured. Efforts to arrest and harm our leadership are underway,” the BYC reported.
The committee described the situation as “a complete war-like scenario” between the innocent, unarmed Baloch and the powerful, ruthless Pakistani military. They noted that Gwadar is under siege, with widespread arrests and house raids.
In response, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee has called for widespread resistance across Balochistan, urging the public to organize shutter-down strikes, block roads, and resist oppression by any means possible. “We appeal to the Baloch masses to stand firm against oppression. The Baloch will not succumb to brutality. We urge everyone across Balochistan to participate in strikes, block roads, and resist in every way possible,” the statement said.
The committee also urged the international community, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, to take notice of the situation in Balochistan. “The international community and the people of Balochistan are witnessing severe violations by Pakistani authorities. Inaction will only embolden the oppressors to inflict more suffering. We call on the United Nations and Amnesty International to address the situation urgently,” the BYC added.
Earlier reports revealed a harsh crackdown on peaceful protesters in Gwadar during the Baloch National Gathering. Eyewitnesses reported that security forces used excessive force, targeting protesters in what is seen as a grave violation of the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, protected under international law.
The BYC reported “indiscriminate firing” on peaceful protesters. “Distressing reports from Gwadar indicate that Pakistan’s security forces have once again attacked the peaceful sit-in of the Baloch National Gathering in Padi Zerr Gwadar. Intense and indiscriminate firing, along with tear gas, has left many participants critically injured and detained,” the committee said.
The rights group previously claimed that Pakistani security forces had abducted 12 women and over 50 men from the Baloch National Gathering. As thousands of Baloch people gathered near Gwadar port city, Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch praised the courage of the protesters and vowed that the sit-in would continue until all arrested participants were released. “The sit-in will persist until all our convoys reach Gwadar safely and all arrested individuals are released. We are prepared to endure pain and make sacrifices for this cause,” she stated in a social media post.
The Baloch community has faced severe human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances where individuals are seized without legal charges, leaving families in distress and victims subjected to brutal torture. Extrajudicial killings target activists and critics without fair legal proceedings, fostering widespread fear and stifling dissent. Torture and mistreatment in detention are prevalent, with physical and psychological abuse used to extract confessions or suppress opposition. Arbitrary detentions disrupt lives and create a pervasive atmosphere of fear, while suppression of free speech through harassment and censorship stifles public debate and accountability.