For the past fortnight, a multitude of demonstrators, including relatives of Balach Mola Bakhsh, have been rallying against his purported killing during a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation in Turbat. The protesters, expressing dissatisfaction with the government's narrative, have issued a two-fold ultimatum: either their demands are met, or they will escalate their protest to the Red Zone in the provincial capital.
Balochistan's Information Minister, Jan Achakzai, along with senior officials from the Quetta administration, including Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, Deputy Commissioner Saad Bin Asad, and others, engaged in discussions with the long march leaders during a visit to the sit-in. During these talks, assurances were given that the government had acceded to the primary demands of the protesters, encompassing the registration of an FIR against CTD officials and an inquiry into the perceived "extra-judicial" killing.
Despite these assurances, Minister Achakzai cautioned against entering the Red Zone, citing security concerns and the potential for terrorist threats. He emphasized the government's commitment to resolving the matter through dialogue. Following a directive from the Balochistan High Court, the CTD officials implicated in the operation have been suspended, and an inquiry team comprising senior police officials has been established to probe the incident.
The protesters, having arrived in Quetta on Monday night and congregated on Sariab Road, remain steadfast in rejecting the CTD's version of events. They contested the claim that Mr. Balach was remanded into CTD custody by an additional sessions judge of Turbat, presenting a challenge to the official narrative. The demonstration in Turbat, which drew participation from political party members, Haq Do Tehreek activists, Baloch Yakjehti Council representatives, and civil society members, spanned two weeks before the protesters redirected their march toward Quetta.
