IHC Affirms Baloch Demonstrators ‘Constitutional Right’ to Protest
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq cautioned the city’s top police official on Thursday, emphasizing that Baloch marchers have a constitutional right to protest, and any obstruction would be against this right.
The Chief Justice’s remarks were made during the hearing of a case related to the ‘illegal’ arrests of participants in the Baloch long march in Islamabad.
Islamabad Inspector General Akbar Nasir Khan appeared before the IHC bench after being summoned by the Chief Justice in response to a plea against the arrest of Baloch protesters earlier in the day.
The long march participants were arrested by authorities during a demonstration in Islamabad protesting against the enforced disappearances of Baloch missing persons. The march, which started in Turbat, was heading towards the Islamabad Press Club when the police intervened late Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the caretaker government announced on Thursday that all women and children detained during the protest had been released.
During the press conference, Minister Fawad Chaudhry stated that a situation had developed where the police clashed with protesters, and Islamabad Police Chief Akbar Nasir Khan presented the facts before the Islamabad High Court.
He mentioned that the Inspector General (IG) informed the court that protesters were present beforehand and did not initiate the chaos. Fawad highlighted that some individuals had covered their faces and planned their actions in advance.
The minister explained that the protesters had been advised to demonstrate at another location, but they disregarded the advice. As they advanced, a local element with plans to exploit the situation created chaos, according to Fawad.
The government’s negotiating team met with the protesters, who claimed they had no intention of causing a law and order situation. Fawad emphasized that the government believed the Balochistan protesters were not responsible, attributing the disturbance to local elements exploiting the situation.
He mentioned that some individuals were still being identified and investigated. The Islamabad High Court directed the police chief to provide information about the identification process by the following morning. Fawad urged the IG not to seek additional time and to promptly identify those involved, expecting more details to emerge during the identification process.
