The caretaker government has claimed that 290 detained Baloch protesters have been released following the court orders and the committee formed by the interim setup to negotiate with protesters.
“A total of 290 protesters have been released from police custody and jail,” the interior ministry said in a statement on Monday. “Peaceful protest is everyone’s right, but no one is allowed to take the law into their hands”
A group of people from Balochistan that has been protesting against the killing of a youth reached the federal capital on Wednesday. They are being led by the Baloch Yakjehti Council. The organisers of the protest had accused police of beating women protesters and children, an allegation police have denied.
Earlier this week, President Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar expressed concerns over the mistreatment of Baloch protesters by the Islamabad police.
The Islamabad police claimed that as many as 250 arrested protestors were released over the three days. At least 163 people were released on Sunday.
The interior ministry added that the security of the Red Zone was ensured in every way, adding that constitutional institutions and a diplomatic enclave were located in the area. A special assistance centre was established by the Islamabad police that have completed their work, the ministry added.
The development took place after a committee comprising federal ministers Murtaza Solangi, Fawad Hassan Fawad, and Jamal Shah held negotiations with Baloch protestors.
According to the statement, Senior Superintendent of Police Abdul Haq Imrani has been appointed as the focal person in that regard.
Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi told a private news channel on Sunday that the government wanted to find a peaceful solution to all genuine concerns raised by Baloch protesters in Islamabad through negotiations.
Efforts were under way to address their concerns through dialogue and bring them back to their homes with dignity, respect, and safety, he added.
Solangi clarified that protesters from Balochistan were not stopped anywhere during their journey, and they were “treated respectfully without any misconduct.”
