### Government Claims Agreement with Protesters Implemented; Baloch Yakjehti Committee Disagrees
Protests, roadblocks, and clashes between demonstrators and security forces continued in Quetta, Gwadar, and other parts of Balochistan. This unrest stems from a disagreement between the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the provincial administration over the implementation of a recently signed agreement.
Government officials claimed that following the agreement, dozens of protesters and BYC supporters were released, making it BYC’s responsibility to end the protests. However, the BYC maintained that the situation had worsened in the Noshki area, where clashes erupted after highways and roads were blocked. The BYC alleged that one man was killed and another injured, though officials did not confirm any fatalities. Local authorities in Noshki did confirm clashes.
BYC leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch declared that sit-ins and roadblocks across the province would continue until the agreement was fully implemented. She disputed the government’s claim that their supporters had been released, stating that many workers and supporters remained in custody. Officials, however, reported that around 80 BYC members arrested during the Gwadar sit-in had been released, with more releases underway. They emphasized that the government had shown flexibility by accepting BYC’s demands and argued that it was now the committee’s responsibility to end the ongoing protests in Gwadar and other cities.
Communication difficulties, due to suspended internet and mobile phone services, hampered the collection of complete information about the negotiations. A senior Home Department official confirmed that around 80 arrested individuals had been released after the government accepted BYC’s demands. He claimed that BYC leaders had assured an end to the protests by 11 a.m. on Friday. “The notification regarding the withdrawal of FIRs was handed over to BYC leaders late at night,” the official told Dawn, adding that despite significant pressure, the administration had engaged in talks with BYC and signed terms of reference, yet the protests in Gwadar and other areas continued.
The sit-in protest continues for the 7th night. Following a brutal crackdown against the Baloch Raaji Muchi, the sit-in movement at Padizir persists. Despite ongoing negotiations, the state is intensifying its crackdown on peaceful protesters across Pakistan, leading to increased… pic.twitter.com/bC29KHhbrL
— Baloch Yakjehti Committee (@BalochYakjehtiC) August 2, 2024
The official expressed concern that the situation could worsen if any untoward incidents occurred. Meanwhile, a fact-check by iVerify revealed that a widely shared video on social media showing Dr. Mahrang being manhandled by police during her arrest was old footage from June 2020.
### Government’s Public Relations Statement
On Friday evening, Balochistan’s public relations department issued a statement claiming successful negotiations between the government and BYC, which supposedly led to the BYC calling off its sit-ins. The statement claimed that, despite the BYC’s hard stance, the provincial government and local administration showed leniency and addressed their demands “in the larger interest of the people and Gwadar’s future.”
During the talks, it was agreed that all arrested BYC supporters would be released, and the Sindh government would be contacted for this purpose. The statement added that those facing FIRs would be released after completing judicial processes by August 5. Participants of “Raji Muchi” would be provided safe passage, and all belongings seized by police during protests would be returned. It was also agreed that mobile and internet services would be restored, and no citizens, including protest participants, would be harassed or victimized after the sit-in.
The BYC claimed that the suspension of internet and mobile services hindered communication with their leaders, though BYC leader Bebarg Baloch confirmed that peaceful protests continued in Quetta.
