Amnesty International South Asia has condemned the 'heavy-handed crackdown' by the police on  Baloch protesters in Lyari region of Pakistan during a peaceful mobilization campaign hosted by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).

In a statement, Amnesty International South Asia said: "The heavy-handed crackdown by the police against Baloch protesters in Lyari, Karachi yesterday during the peaceful mobilization campaign by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) violates the right to freedom of peaceful assembly."

"The women protesters were detained for several hours before being released, while nine men, including Lala Wahab Baloch, the Central Deputy Organizer of BYC, remain detained without any charges filed against them," the group said.

The human rights organisation further said Pakistani authorities have intensified harassment and intimidation of Baloch activists ahead of a rally planned in Dalbandin, Balochistan on 25 January 2025, including through criminal cases filed against the BYC leadership.

"@amnesty calls on the authorities to immediately release all those detained during the gathering in Lyari and ensure that the right to protest is upheld by refraining from any arbitrary detentions, use of unlawful force and criminal cases against organizers and participants of peaceful assemblies," the group said.