Renowned author and journalist Mohammed Hanif announced his decision to return the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s third-highest civilian award, in a symbolic protest against the violence inflicted on Baloch marchers.
Hanif’s decision was sparked by a distressing video of a Baloch girl pleading for basic human rights. Expressing his dismay, Hanif criticized the state’s continued mistreatment of Baloch citizens, feeling ashamed of witnessing a new generation being stripped of their dignity.
The incident comes in the wake of a protest led by the Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC), which saw women leading a march against the enforced disappearances of Baloch men.
The marchers, who reached Islamabad on Wednesday, faced baton charges and mass arrests by the Islamabad Police, leading to a public outcry and condemnations from various human rights organizations and political parties. The PPP and Jamat-e-Islami notably spoke out against the actions, and the government later claimed that the force was used to prevent a “catastrophe.”
Legal Developments and Political Reactions
The Islamabad High Court intervened, instructing the police not to hinder the Baloch protesters, affirming their constitutional right to protest. PPP’s Farhatullah Babar, attending the sit-in, expressed support for the protesters’ demands for fundamental rights and called for legal action against enforced disappearances.
JI’s Senator Mushtaq also condemned the police’s actions and urged for the recovery of missing persons. Despite forming a government committee to address the issues raised by the Baloch marchers, there has been little progress, with the protesters planning a “peaceful rally” at the Islamabad Press Club.
