ISLAMABAD: The court of a judicial magistrate in the federal capital on Saturday approved bail of 162 arrested Baloch protestors – marching for the release of Baloch ‘missing persons’ in the federal capital.
According to details, Judicial Magistrate Murid Abbas approved the bail of 162 arrested Baloch protestors and directed them to submit a surety bond of Rs5,000 against their bail.
The Apex Law Associates had filed bail applications for them, according to Islamabad police.
At least 50 Baloch women protesters have been released, following the orders of Islamabad High Court on Friday, BBC Urdu reported earlier in the day.
نگران وزیراعظم پاکستان اور وزارتی کمیشن کی ہدایات پر 162 گرفتار مظاہرین کی درخواست ضمانت دائر کردی گئی۔
ایپکس لاء ایسوسی ایٹس نے رضاکارانہ طور پر ضمانتیں دائر کی ہیں۔
162 افراد کو آج جوڈیشل مجسٹریٹ مرید عباس کی عدالت میں پیش کیا جائے گا۔#ICTP
— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 23, 2023
The Islamabad police had subsequently used brutal force to disperse and detain Baloch demonstrators with over 200 protesters taken into custody from different areas of the federal capital. The demonstrators were also met with tear gas, water cannons and police batons.
The events were strongly condemned by human rights organisations, politicians and analysts. On Thursday evening, the government said 90 percent of the Baloch men and women taken into custody were released, except for the men who “could not be identified” by police. The police actions were censured by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, President Dr Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar as well.
Yesterday, President Dr Arif Alvi and Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar held a telephonic conversation wherein they expressed concern over the inappropriate police treatment of the Baloch protestors.
Discussing the situation, the president and prime minister viewed that the police should not have dealt with the protestors strictly, a President House press release said.
Meanwhile, PM Kakar told President Alvi that the detained protestors were being released on personal bonds.
Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar also called on President Alvi and discussed the overall situation in Balochistan province as well as police maltreatment against the Baloch protestors.
The governor viewed that the police should show restraint towards the protestors.
Yesterday, the Islamabad Police had informed the Islamabad High Court that there was no woman in their custody and everyone was released. Islamabad Inspector General of Police Akbar Nisar had also informed the IHC chief justice on Friday that “no women were in their custody.”
Attaullah Kundi, the lawyer from the arrested protesters of the Baloch Yakjheti March, had informed the IHC that police forced all the women to board the buses. He quoted the SSP as saying that they have orders from the caretaker prime minister to send protesters back to Balochistan.
In response to the judge’s query, the IGP replied that the bus was arranged for those who wanted to return. “Where are all the people? Inform the court about them,” IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq had asked during a hearing of the case.
According to police, social activist Dr Mahrang Baloch was also among the released protesters.
