The streets of Quetta turned chaotic as Pakistani police clashed with protesting government workers, prompting scathing criticism from the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC). Dozens were hauled away in a bid to halt a sit-in demanding fair pay allowances, an event BSAC labeled as a blatant attack on educators and professionals.
Tuesday’s confrontation came after authorities sealed off access to the Red Zone, forcing demonstrators to regroup at the Press Club. Videos circulating online show officers manhandling a professor, dragging him publicly – a scene BSAC called the ‘pinnacle of teacher humiliation.’
‘Police funded by taxpayers resorting to dragging professors is not just condemnable; it’s an immoral outrage against the teaching fraternity,’ the student group declared. They lambasted the regime for preaching educational excellence while stifling those who seek basic entitlements through non-violent means.
In Balochistan, even raising one’s voice for rights has become a crime, BSAC warned, with innocents punished for non-existent misdeeds. The group urged top Pakistani officials to launch a fair investigation and hold accountable the perpetrators, emphasizing zero tolerance for violence from either side.
Protesters from every corner of the province braved roadblocks set up overnight with shipping containers, only to face arrests upon arrival. Internet blackouts compounded the disruption, hampering coordination and information flow. The Balochistan Grand Alliance, spearheading the movement, vowed a massive ‘Jail Bharo’ escalation in response.
This is not an isolated incident; persistent employee agitations reflect systemic failures in public service remuneration. Rights watchdogs have voiced alarms over the crackdown’s severity, painting a picture of a province where dissent is met with iron fists. As tensions mount, questions swirl about Pakistan’s ability to address Balochistan’s grievances without fueling further unrest.