The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday stopped local authorities of the federal capital from harassing and removing Baloch protesters by force from the National Press Club.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued directives to authorities in the federal capital while hearing a case pertaining to the alleged harassment and the use of force against Baloch families protesting against extra-judicial killing and enforced disappearances.
Additionally, the high court also ordered in-person appearance of Islamabad’s deputy commissioner and senior superintendent police Operations in the next hearing on January 5.
Justice Kayani was hearing a petition filed by a Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch against alleged harassment of protesting families by police.
At the outset of the hearing, Ataullah Kundi Advocate, who appeared as Sammi’s lawyer, apprised the court that Baloch families have staged a sit-in outside the National Press Club in Islamabad.
The police had arrested several women and children after lodging cases before the court ordered their release, he added.