The federal government has released all the remaining 290 Baloch protesters, in light of the deliberations of the committee formed by Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and the court’s order, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
In a statement released on Monday, the Interior Ministry said that the decision to release all the arrested protesters (290) from police detention and jail was taken in view of the directions of the honourable court.
وزیراعظم کی تشکیل کردہ کمیٹی کے مذاکرات اور عدالت کے فیصلے کی روشنی میں احتجاج کرنے والے تمام افراد رہا،پولیس تحویل اور جیل سے مجموعی طور پر 290 مظاہرین کو رہا کردیا گیا ہے، پرامن احتجاج ہر کسی کا حق ہے لیکن کسی کو قانون ہاتھ میں لینے کی اجازت نہیں،
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) December 25, 2023
The spokesman said that peaceful protest was the right of every citizen, but no one was allowed to take the law into their hands.
The security of the Federal Capital’s Red Zone, where constitutional institutions and the Diplomatic Enclave were located, would be ensured at all costs, the spokesperson added.
ریڈ زون کی سکیورٹی کو ہر صورت یقینی بنایا جاتا ہے، ریڈ زون میں آئینی ادارے اور ڈپلومیٹک انکلیو ہے، اسلام آباد پولیس کی جانب سے خصوصی مدد سنٹر قائم کیا گیا تھا جس نے اپنا کام مکمل کر لیا ھے،
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) December 25, 2023
He said that a special assistance centre was set up by the Islamabad Police, which could be contacted at telephone numbers 0519001534 and 03459600622 or email address: assistance.ictp@gmail.com.
اگر کسی کو کوئی مشکل درپیش ہے وہ ان نمبروں 0519001534 ، 03459600622 یا ای میل ایڈریس assistance.ictp@gmail.com پر رابطہ کر سکتے ہیں.
— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) December 25, 2023
The participants of the Baloch protest march, which started in Turbat on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Baloch youth by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, had reached Islamabad last week. However, they were met with brutal forces and more than 200 protesters were taken into custody by the Islamabad police.
In light of the crackdown, the march led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) had been converted into a sit-in outside the National Press Club.
On Saturday, the BYC had given a three-day ultimatum to the government to quash the cases registered against students and activists and release all of the protesters. The following day, the Islamabad police had announced it was releasing all the detained protesters after their bail was approved.
The police had also set up a “special help centre” for the release of the incarcerated individuals.
Reporter Awais Kiyani