Sindh Govt Orders Inquiry Into Mistreatment Of Baloch Women During Protest In Karachi

Sindh Govt Orders Inquiry Into Mistreatment Of Baloch Women During Protest In Karachi
Following social media backlash, an inquiry has been ordered into the Sindh police's treatment of Baloch protesters in Karachi during a peaceful sit in against the abduction of two Baloch students.

Federal Minister Sherry Rehman shared a picture of the order in a tweet that said that an inquiry had been launched into the disproportionate and unseemly use of force against women protesters in Karachi outside the Press Club. She thanked Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in her tweet, implying that the inquiry had been ordered by him.

https://twitter.com/sherryrehman/status/1536624095097278464

According to the inquiry, a committee of three officers was formed, under the supervision of the additional Inspector General of Police Imran at the Sindh Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Yaqoob Minhas.

The committee was tasked with ascertaining the facts of the incident, enquiring into the allegations of mishandling and illegal detention, and providing specific recommendations. The committee was also told they could co-opt any member of the Sindh Police.

The order gave the committee seven days to submit a report of their findings.

Previously on June 7 two Baloch students of the University of Karachi were abducted from their residence in Chowrangi at 5 AM. The families of the students held peaceful sit ins outside the Karachi Press Club every day since their abduction.

Yesterday’s peaceful sit-in was disrupted by the Sindh Police, who showed up and began attacking the protesters who had just been sitting peacefully. The men were beaten with batons, while the women were dragged and pushed into police vans.

Among the women protesters was the pregnant sister-in-law of one of the abducted students, who was also dragged by female police officers.

https://twitter.com/DrushumBaloch1/status/1536398224503758851

https://twitter.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1536388370489872384

The actions taken by the Sindh Police were highly condemned by social media users, who questioned why the Sindh government was silent about the mistreatment of protesters.