Thousands of Baloch people have gathered near Gwadar port city for the Baloch National Gathering, popularly known as Baloch Raaji Muchi. The Baloch participants, however, who could not reach the scheduled venue in Gwadar due to hindrances created by the Pakistani state have been reported to organise sit-ins on the spot where they are being stopped, creating multiple peaceful protest locations across Balochistan.
In a post on X, the Baloch National Movement’s Foreign Committee’s Hakeem Baloch said, “All the tactics used by the state to disperse and defeat the Baloch Raji Muchi have failed. Baloch are now protesting across Balochistan against state brutality and Baloch genocide. On the other hand, thousands of people have arrived in Gwadar.”
“All the barbarities, including kidnapping, intimidation and shooting of people by the Pakistani state seem unsuccessful and helpless in front of the peaceful struggle of the Baloch Solidarity Committee. While the caravan of Baloch mothers, sisters and daughters is moving towards the destination with success,” he added.
An exiled Baloch leader and media head of the Baloch National Movement, Jamal Baloch, highlighted the critical situation in Balochistan. He said that a large number of people gathered on Marine Drive are moving towards Padi Zirr in Gwadar.
In a post on X, Jamal Baloch stated, “Gwadar #Balochistan: Thousands of people have gathered on Marine Drive, moving towards the gathering place, Padi Zirr in Gwadar. Meanwhile, Padi Zirr is surrounded by a large number of Pakistani forces to prevent people from assembling.”
Gwadar #Balochistan: Thousands of people have gathered on Marine Drive, moving towards the gathering place, Padi Zirr in Gwadar. Meanwhile, Padi Zirr is surrounded by a large number of Pakistani forces to prevent people from assembling. #BalochNationalGathering pic.twitter.com/WiUULK9tSa
— Jamal Baloch (@Jam__Baloch) July 28, 2024
Earlier in the day, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee said that shopkeepers and entrepreneurs have observed a shutter down strike in most areas of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung and Kharan, against state oppression and brutality at the Baloch National Gathering and the imposition of curfew in Makran, including Gwadar.
The BYC said that the state cannot stop the struggle against the Baloch genocide by use of force, violence and false propaganda. It further stated that this struggle will end the Baloch genocide. In the video shared by BYC, shops were shut as people proceeded to attend the Baloch National Gathering.
Taking to X, the BYC stated, “Voluntary foundations by shopkeepers and entrepreneurs in most areas of Balochistan including Khuzdar, Kalat, Mangchar, Nushki, Dalbandin, Mastung, Kharan today against the state oppression and brutality on Baloch Raji Machi caravans and the imposition of curfew in Makran including Gwadar. But the shutter down strike is going on.”
“This is a people’s struggle against Baloch genocide, which has all the support and support of the Baloch people. The state cannot stop this struggle either by using force and violence or by false propaganda and narrative. The Baloch Raji Machi held in Gwadar on July 28 has spread throughout Balochistan today. This struggle will completely end the Baloch genocide on the Baloch land with the power and strength of the people,” it added.
Addressing the crowd on Sunday, the BYC’s central organiser Dr. Mahrang Baloch condemned the oppressive measures employed by the Pakistani forces to suppress the Baloch national movement. “Protest is our constitutional right. We have come out for justice and will secure our rights. Today’s massive gathering in Gwadar has proven that the Baloch will never compromise on their rights. The Raaji Muchi you tried to stop by force is now happening across all Balochistan. Today, all of Gwadar is here to declare that we do not need your presence, nor do we want your oppression. This land is ours,” Mahrang said.
"Today Balochs have told the State that despite all its violence to stop us, we have come out and we will always come out against its atrocities and for our rights," says Mahrang at #BalochNationalGathering. pic.twitter.com/ZZw1y6ODbt
— The Balochistan Post – English (@TBPEnglish) July 28, 2024
“Attempts are being made to suppress the Baloch national movement by force. It is time for the state to come to its senses and end the oppression and brutality in Balochistan,” she added.
Baloch National Gathering
The ongoing clashes in Balochistan over the Baloch National Gathering are an outcome of longstanding hostilities between the Baloch people and the Pakistani government. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) organised the event on 28th July to urge solidarity and opposition to the Pakistani state’s genocidal campaigns. The announcement of the event was received with a heavy-handed response from Pakistani security forces, including crackdowns, arrests, and even the use of violent force against protestors, causing casualties and increased turmoil.
Taking to X, Baloch activist Faiz Baluch called Sarfaraz Bugti the “butcher of Balochistan and accused him of using state forces to crush peaceful protest. He added that despite hundreds of Baloch activists were abducted, injured and many killed, the BYC managed to bring everyone together in Gwadar for the Baloch National Gathering (BNG) event.
“The military puppet CM @PakSarfrazbugti, “The Butcher of Balochistan,” used all state forces against peaceful activists. Hundreds were abducted, dozens injured, and several killed, but the BYC still managed to gather thousands of people in Gwadar for the #BalochNationalGathering,” Baluch posted.
The military puppet CM @PakSarfrazbugti, "The Butcher of Balochistan," used all state forces against peaceful activists. Hundreds were abducted, dozens injured, and several killed, but the BYC still managed to gather thousands of people in Gwadar for the #BalochNationalGathering. pic.twitter.com/2mpz9nY90b
— Faiz Baluch (@Faiz_Baluch) July 28, 2024
In a press release addressed to the media and journalists, the BYC highlighted several incidents of human rights violation by the Pakistani forces within 48 hours of the Baloch National Gathering’s announcement. The release stated that an “unannounced curfew” was imposed in Gwadar and no one was allowed to enter or leave the area.
In the Mastung area, the Pakistani military opened direct fire on the peaceful Baloch National Gathering’s caravan, which included hundreds of Baloch women and children. During the gunfire, 14 participants were injured, three of whom were critically injured and are undergoing treatment at Quetta Trauma Center. “After this, the military forces burst the tyres of all the convoy’s vehicles, rendering them useless, and shattered the windows with direct fire. The caravan intended for the Baloch national gathering is currently holding a peaceful sit-in in Mastung.” the BYC said.
At the Talar Checkpoint situated 60 km away from Gwadar, Pakistani troops used extreme violence, firing directly, and shelling tear gas leaving several injured and one dead. The Internet services in this area have also been suspended. In Karachi, the BNG activists were stopped by the authorities after being held for 12 to 14 hours. These activists including women were allowed to proceed, however, they were stopped again 200 kilometres later at Buzzi Top Hingol, where their vehicle tyres burst, and they were not allowed to proceed further.
We appeal to all media houses globally and journalists to respect journalistic values and principles to provide coverage of the war-like situation in Balochistan, the complete curfew in Gwadar, and the severe brutality and oppression by the Pakistani state.
— Baloch Yakjehti Committee (@BalochYakjehtiC) July 28, 2024
Contact us:… pic.twitter.com/vuDbCoJq1s
Drawing attention towards the incidents of forced disappearances the BYC said, “To sabotage the Baloch National Gathering, in the past week, peaceful activists preparing for the national gathering have been raided in various parts of Balochistan. Five people from Karachi and several from Quetta have been forcibly disappeared, and several false FIRS have been registered against peaceful activists in various parts of Balochistan.”
In the footage, you can see the Pakistan security forces (FC) firing on the Baloch Raaji Muchi caravan at Kund Malir, where the caravan of the Baloch National Gathering from Karachi was heading towards Gwadar to join the gathering. The state is using its power to stop people from… pic.twitter.com/ZKRlX5FNFB
— Baloch Yakjehti Committee (@BalochYakjehtiC) July 28, 2024
On 28th July, a complete shutdown strike was imposed in most parts of Balochistan against the brutality and oppression of the Pakistani state against the Baloch National Gathering. “In addition, sit-ins are ongoing in front of Balochistan University in Quetta, on the Quetta-Karachi highway in Mastung, and the Coastal Highway in Hingol,” the BYC said.
The Baloch rights body further slammed the Pakistani mainstream media for not covering the “war-like situation in Balochistan, the complete curfew in Gwadar, and the severe brutality and oppression by the Pakistani state.”
Notably, it was reported that on 26th July, a violent clash between the two sides in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) killed five people, including Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s nephew, Fahad Ahmed Nawaz Bugti, in Khayaban-i-Nishat. According to reports, the conflict involved two groups of the Bugti clan, one led by Fahad Bugti and the other by Ali Haider Bugti. While Pakistani authorities said that the conflict began as a personal dispute and erupted into a gunfight near Ali Haider’s home, it is speculated that the ISI was involved.
