A first information report (FIR) has been registered against human rights activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and several members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) for allegedly damaging the government property, interfering with government affairs, and raising anti-state slogans.

The complaint comes after over a dozen people, including six policemen, were injured and 27 people, including five women, were arrested on Thursday in clashes between supporters of the BYC and police during a rally organised for the recovery of missing students.

Over a dozen police vehicles were damaged as police lobbed tear gas and baton-charged BYC supporters, according to media reports. The clashes began when police tried to push BYC supporters from the Red Zone area in Quetta where the protesters wanted to stage a sit-in.

The complaint, which was registered on July 11, invoked sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees, 123-A (condemnation of the creation of the State, and advocacy of abolition of its sovereignty), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups, etc), and 324 (attempt to commit qatl-i-amd) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act which calls for punishment for acts of terrorism has also been added to the complaint.

According to the FIR, a rally of 500 to 600 people came from Joint Road to Khatm-e-Nabuwat Chowk in Quetta and allegedly raised anti-state slogans. The agitated crowd had previously attacked the Sariab Road police station and injured police officers, it claimed.

The protestors were offered negotiations, but they resorted to stone-pelting and firing on the police on the directions of their leaders, the complaint alleged. Police then dispersed the protesters.

“The government of Balochistan has filed two FIRs against peaceful protesters including me. These are old tactics to silence those who are peacefully fighting for their rights,” Mahrang said in reaction to the complaints.

While sharing the copies of the FIR on social media, she said that the law should protect the masses, but instead, “the state has been using the law against people who believe in democracy and peaceful human rights struggles.”

Supporters of BYC had been protesting by staging a sit-in camp for over a week in Sariab area against the alleged disappearance of Zaheer Baloch and other Baloch missing persons. Their march towards the Red Zone to stage their sit-in led to clashes.

Earlier in the day, Mahrang said that the main highway connecting Quetta to Karachi (N-25) has been blocked near Sona Khan area. She reiterated the committee would block the highways if their demands were not met, including safe release of Zaheer Baloch.