The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to meet all its demands or the movement would take its case before the Baloch people. They are demanding an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of their community. Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the organisers, presented several demands in a press conference in Islamabad today. The demands include a fact-finding mission by a UN Working Group to investigate rights violations in Balochistan and an agreement to eliminate enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. They are also demanding the immediate release of all victims of enforced disappearances and the elimination of state-sponsored death squads.
Dr. Mahrang warned that if the state does not hold sincere negotiations and does not show seriousness within the week, the movement will express its disappointment and put forth its case before the Baloch people. The Baloch people would then be the ones to decide matters. Criticizing the treatment of the protesters by the police and administration, Dr. Mahrang accused the state of using every kind of measure against the Baloch.
The development comes after hundreds of participants of the Baloch long march were detained by the capital police and human rights organizations have condemned the actions of the state. The Islamabad police claim that all detained Baloch protesters have been released. However, the Baloch protesters claim that 34 protesters are still in police custody. The interior ministry statement confirms that 34 more arrested protesters have been released. Government committee members held talks with the protesters and have released women and children arrested during the protests.