IHC CJ reprimands Islamabad IG for crackdown on Baloch protesters

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamir Farooq on Friday chided the Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan over the recent crackdown against the Baloch women and men during a demonstration against “enforced disappearances” outside the National Press Club in the federal capital.

On Wednesday night, the Islamabad Police used “excessive force” and rounded up all the Baloch protesters who had converged in the capital to stage a protest. The long march led by Baloch women had started its journey from Balochistan on December 6.

The police action against the Baloch women and men triggered widespread condemnation from human rights bodies and political parties. Even the federal ministers admitted that the “protesters who reached Islamabad from Balochistan were not involved in the violence”.

They, however, were of the view that force was used to avoid a “catastrophe” in the federal capital.

Hearing a petition filed by long march organisers Sami Baloch and Abdul Salam a day earlier, the IHC ruled: “Let them protest who have come to protest, it’s their constitutional right.”

The court sought a detailed report regarding the number of Baloch protesters arrested during the police action and adjourned the hearing till today.

At the outset of Friday’s hearing, the Islamabad IG apprised the court that 52 Baloch women were arrested and would be produced before the local court.

At this, the court ordered the police to hand over the detainees to organisers of the long march.

Meanwhile, senior journalist Hamid Mir apprised the court that the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police barred him from performing his professional duty when he reached the women’s police station where Baloch women were being taken by “dragging”.

“Yesterday, the court was informed that all the women have been released. Three interim ministers, while addressing a joint presser conference, reiterated that all the women were freed but I came to know that none of them were released. Hence, I reached the police station for coverage, where Baloch women were being taken by dragging.”

He further said that the police officials snatched his mobile phone and misbehaved with him.

Meanwhile, the IG apologised to the senior journalist for the police’s behaviour.

At this, the IHC, while addressing the IG, remarked: “Street crimes have increased. You don’t do what you are supposed to do.” The chief justice said he would issue a detailed verdict in this regard and adjourned the hearing. The IHC two-member bench will resume hearing on the case next week.

Meanwhile, President Dr Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar held a telephonic conversation wherein they expressed concern over the inappropriate police treatment to Baloch protesters.

According to the President House on Friday, discussing the situation, both the president and prime minister viewed that police should not have dealt with the protesters strictly. The prime minister told the president the detained protesters were being released on personal bonds.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar called on President Alvi and discussed the overall situation in Balochistan as well as police maltreatment to Baloch protesters. The governor said the police should have shown restraint towards the protesters. Both believed that police should not have acted beyond their limits and powers. They emphasized measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan.

Caretaker Minister for Broadcasting and Information Murtaza Solangi said that the issue of protesters from Balochistan would be solved in government’s limited term.

The minister said the government had decided to immediately release the women and children involved in the Baloch protests and some protesters were provided medical facilities.

He said most of the protesters included people who had no homes or relatives in Islamabad.

“We decided to send them back to Quetta safely but the protesters refused to go back,” Murtaza Solangi said. “Our aim was to send the protesters safely to their homes.”

He said the caretaker regime assured the protesters of considering their long-standing demands as well.