Pakistan protests: Amna Baloch, 3 others arrested; outrage grows over Zeeshan Zaheer’s killing

Amna Baloch and three other Baloch activists were detained by police in Karachi during a peaceful protest on Thursday, reported The Balochistan Post.The demonstration was organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Lyari against the alleged extrajudicial killing of Zeeshan Zaheer, a youth activist from Balochistan and member of BYC’s Panjgur Organising Committee.Zeeshan had been campaigning for years to find his father, Zaheer Ahmed Baloch, who was forcibly disappeared in 2015. Zeeshan’s body was found in Panjgur on 30 June, a day after he was reportedly abducted by a state-backed militia. He had been shot multiple times.His death has led to anger and protests across Balochistan. The BYC has called Zeeshan’s killing another example of state repression against Baloch activists. Thursday’s protest in Karachi was supposed to begin from Lyari’s 8 Chowk. However, before the march could start, police stopped the demonstrators and used force to break up the gathering.

In a statement shared on X, BYC said Amna Baloch and three others—Suhail, Irfan, and one unnamed protester—were taken to Risala Police Station. The group condemned the arrests and demanded their immediate release.“This is not the first time that our peaceful protests have faced state repression in Karachi,” the BYC said. “The state must be held accountable for its crimes. Silencing dissent will not bury the truth.”