Quetta returned to normalcy on Sunday after a partial shutdown the previous day, while other parts of Balochistan remained closed for the second consecutive day following a strike called by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). The BYC initiated the strike in response to the arrests of its chief organiser, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, and 16 other activists during a protest against alleged enforced disappearances.
The protests were initially sparked by the detention of BYC activist Bebarg Baloch, his brother, and Bolan Medical College Vice Principal Dr. Ilyas Baloch and his family members. While Dr. Ilyas and his relatives have since been released, tensions escalated when the BYC claimed that police fired blank shots during a demonstration, resulting in three deaths. However, Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat refuted these claims, attributing the fatalities to “armed elements accompanying BYC leadership.”
On Saturday, Quetta experienced a partial shutdown, with areas like Sariab Road and Brewery Road observing closures. In contrast, main businesses and markets remained operational. By Sunday, normal activities resumed in Quetta, and mobile internet services, which had been suspended for four days without official explanation, were restored. Meanwhile, cities such as Gwadar and Surab, which observed strikes on Saturday, also reopened.
The BYC announced further protests, urging the public to join demonstrations against the state’s actions and to demand the release of their detained leaders. Amnesty International has expressed concern over Dr. Mahrang’s detention, highlighting that she has been denied access to legal representation and family, and calling for her immediate release.
