ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Aamir Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) chastised Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan, the Islamabad Inspector General (IG), on Friday for the recent suppression of Baloch women and men who participated in a protest against “enforced disappearances” outside the National Press Club in the federal capital.
Using “excessive force,” the Islamabad police apprehended every Baloch protestor who had gathered in the nation’s capital to organize a protest demonstration on Wednesday night. On December 6, the women of Baloch origin began their arduous march from Balochistan.
Both political parties and human rights organizations strongly condemned the police conduct against the Baloch women and men. “Protesters who reached Islamabad from Balochistan were not involved in the violence,” even the federal ministers acknowledged.
On the other hand, they believed that the use of force prevented a “catastrophe” in the nation’s capital.
Sami Baloch and Abdul Salam, the organizers of the lengthy march, filed a petition, and the IHC decided the day before that “let them protest who have come to protest, it’s their constitutional right.”
The hearing was postponed until today as the court requested a thorough report on the number of Baloch protestors detained by the police.
The Islamabad IG informed the court at the beginning of today’s session that 52 Baloch women had been detained and would be appearing in local court today.
At this point, the court gave the police the order to release the detainees to the long march organizers.
The court was informed that while arriving at the women’s police station, where Baloch women were being brought by “dragging,” he was denied the opportunity to carry out his official duties by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police.
“All of the women have been released, the court was informed yesterday. While speaking at a joint news conference, three temporary ministers reaffirmed that all the women had been let free; however, I have now learned that none of them had actually been set free. As a result, I arrived at the police station to provide coverage and saw Baloch ladies being hauled in by drag.
He went on to say that the cops had mistreated him and taken his cell phone.
The senior journalist received an apology from the Inspector General for the actions of the police.
At this point, the IHC said to the IG, “There has been an increase in street crimes.”The chief justice postponed the hearing, stating that he will render a thorough decision in this regard. Next week, the matter will be heard again by the two-member IHC court.
