Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s recent comments on the ongoing Baloch protesters’ sit-in in Islamabad have sparked widespread condemnation, with many deeming the remarks as “irresponsible.” The protesters have been rallying for over a week, demanding the recovery of their missing loved ones and raising concerns about extra-judicial killings in Balochistan.
During a press conference in Lahore, Kakar dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the Balochistan issue. He suggested that those supporting the Baloch protest could join Baloch militants, implying rights activists and journalists standing with the marchers.
Responding to questions about police violence against Baloch protesters in Islamabad, the caretaker premier accused some, including media persons, of trying to mislead and damage the state. Kakar asserted that those protesting in the federal capital were relatives of individuals fighting against the state in Balochistan. However, he clarified that the state’s conflict was with militant outfits, not the Baloch people.
Prominent lawyer and rights activist Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir criticized Kakar’s statements, calling them “irresponsible and provocative.” She raised concerns about pushing peaceful people towards taking up arms against injustice.
Dr Mahrang Baloch, one of the protest organizers, accused the premier of declaring victims of enforced disappearances as terrorists, insulting victim families, and adopting a threatening tone towards peaceful political activists. She reiterated their movement’s goal of ending human rights violations in Balochistan.
Sammi Deen Baloch, whose father has been missing since 2009, questioned the premier’s remarks, emphasizing that victims of forced disappearances were often ordinary people mistaken for being Baloch.
The caretaker PM’s comments also drew criticism during a Senate session, with PML-N Senator Sadia Abbasi terming them “disappointing.” She questioned the lack of court presentations and cases against the missing individuals if they were truly enemies of the state.
As the outrage grows, critics argue that Kakar’s statements could escalate tensions and worsen the existing conflict, emphasizing the need for measured discourse in addressing complex issues.
