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Tensions high in Pakistan’s Gwadar as Baloch group clashes with armed forces
Over a dozen protesters en route to Gwadar for a major rally were injured in violent clashes in Mastung district on Sunday, amid a widespread shutdown of Internet, mobile phone, and broadband services. The ongoing unrest follows widespread protests over rising power bills in Pakistan.
The protesters, travelling to attend the ‘Baloch Raji Muchi’ (Baloch National Gathering) organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), were targeted as they sought to voice opposition against alleged human rights abuses and heavy security deployments in Balochistan.
The BYC, which advocates for the rights of ethnic Baloch people. BYC supporters continued to block key highways in Mastung, Quetta, and Turbat, halting traffic for a second consecutive day.
Gulzar Dost Baloch, a BYC member, claimed that security forces attacked buses carrying protesters with gunfire on Saturday afternoon.
“Fourteen BYC members were injured in the attack, and one, who sustained a severe head injury, is in critical condition at a Trauma Center in Quetta,” Baloch said.
The Balochistan government has denied these allegations, asserting that no firing occurred and dismissing claims of attacks on caravans.
Thousands have gathered in Rawalpindi and Lahore to demonstrate against a 26 percent increase in electricity prices during the last fiscal year, with an additional 20 percent hike implemented in July. The Jamaat-e-Islami party, leading the protests, has occupied major roads, including those leading into Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.
Naeem-ur-Rehman, head of Jamaat-e-Islami, has vowed to continue the protests until the government addresses the rising power costs. “We are prepared to stay on the streets for as long as necessary,” Rehman said. The power price hikes are part of conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for a $7 billion loan deal.
Critics cite past agreements with private power companies as a significant factor in the escalating energy costs.
Amidst these protests, Balochistan remains tense, with additional demonstrations against police violence, internet shutdowns, and highway closures. Amnesty International has reported at least three fatalities, while the military claims one soldier was killed and 16 wounded by an aggressive mob in Gwadar.
In response to the violence, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee has warned that the situation could spiral out of control if the state continues to use force against peaceful assemblies. A provincial minister is heading to Gwadar to engage with the committee’s leaders and address the escalating crisis.
