Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq Thursday warned the capital city’s top cop against any hindrance in the protest staged by the Baloch marchers, saying that they have the constitutional right of demonstration.
The remark came during the hearing of a case pertaining to the “illegal” arrests of Baloch long march participants in Islamabad.
Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Akbar Nasir Khan appeared before the IHC bench upon being summoned by the CJ after the court took up a plea against the arrest of Baloch protesters — earlier in the day.
The long march participants were detained by authorities during a demonstration in Islamabad against the enforced disappearances of Baloch missing persons. The march began in Turbat and was heading towards the Islamabad Press Club when the police intercepted them late Wednesday night.
All main roads leading to the Red Zone, including Kashmir Avenue, were blocked on Wednesday when the police stopped the Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC) advance party at Chungi No. 26 as it tried to enter Islamabad via the motorway.
Police sources stated that two groups of BYC protestors arrived unannounced on Wednesday evening, but that the authorities used police to break up the crowd as soon as the motorcade arrived at Chungi No. 26. One group, consisting of roughly fifty protestors, had already joined the BYC protesters gathered in front of the National Press Club. The remaining protestors, who arrived by bus, were separated at Chungi No. 26.
Police sources said the law enforcement agencies were trying to clear the blocked roads by forcing the protesters away from the main road.
Human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari represented the protesters in the plea filed by long march organisers Sami Baloch and Abdul Salam.
