Quetta, July 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Several Baloch rights organisations and activists have criticised the reported use of force against protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), alleging that security operations in the region have led to civilian deaths, injuries and arrests.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) said the reported firing, detention of political activists and alleged targeting of civilians reflected what it described as a wider pattern of suppressing public dissent through force.
In a statement, the rights group alleged that authorities had chosen coercive measures instead of addressing public concerns through dialogue and political engagement. It called upon international human rights organisations, United Nations bodies and the global community to take note of what it termed violations of civil liberties, restrictions on peaceful protests and alleged extrajudicial actions.
Baloch Women Forum central organiser Shalee Baloch also expressed concern over the situation, criticising the reported action against protesters. In a post on X, she said movements seeking rights could not be suppressed through force and that struggles of marginalised communities continued despite repression.
The Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) also condemned the reported violence, describing the alleged use of state force against demonstrators as a serious human rights concern.
The statements came amid continuing unrest in PoK, where protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee have reportedly intensified over political, economic and governance-related demands.
Reports cited by rights groups claimed that more than 40 people have been killed and several others injured during the recent clashes. Some groups have alleged that the overall death toll since the beginning of protests could be higher. These claims could not be independently verified.
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