Hayat Baloch killing in Pakistan: Activists demand justice

Karima Baloch, chairperson of the Baloch Students Organization Azad, tweeted: "This picture should not be hidden, because it’s not a picture. It’s a story, story of every Baloch who is being killed by Pakistan forces, she is not hayat’s mother who is mourning. It is the entire Balochistan mourning."

Activist Beebagr Baloch reacted to the killing and posted: "This is not Palestine and this is not Kashmir this my #Balochistan where Pakistani army killed Hayat Baloch In the front of his parents. #PakistanArmyShameOnU. [sic.]"

Politician Muhammad Ali Wazir remarked: "Fascism and barbarism reached to its peak. The dead body and flowing blood of #HayatBaloch in front of their parents is a shame for this state in which thousands Baloch and Pashtun youngsters are killed by Pakistani security forces in the last two decades."

Fascism and barbarism reached to its peak. The dead body and flowing blood of #HayatBaloch in front of their parents is a shame for this state in which thousands Baloch and Pashtun youngsters are killed by Pakistani security forces in the last two decades#StopStateTerrorism pic.twitter.com/wpXa8nSJIW

— Ali Wazir (@Aliwazirna50) August 17, 2020

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement leader Mohsin Dawar tweeted: "#HayatBaloch's murder is another example of State brutality. If the State really wants to win Baloch hearts & minds then enabling educated Baloch shld [sic] be priority. But instead Hayat was murdered to remind everyone that our State has learnt nothing from 1971 #JusticeForHayatBaloch."

Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari tweeted: "Absolutely unacceptable - the killing by FC of a young boy Hayat Baloch in Aabsir Turbat, in front of his family. While the personnel responsible have been handed to the police & FIR registered, an inquiry must be held to find out how this brazen killing was allowed to happen."

Hayat was allegedly killed by the Frontier Corps (FC) of Pakistan in Balochistan's Turbat town.

The killing has triggered protests across Pakistan. 

Meanwhile, the student's father recognised the suspect during an identification parade in Turbat district jail on Wednesday.

The father of the victim had earlier said he could recognise the FC man if brought in front of him. Hayat was taken to a date orchard after a blast in the Absar area of Turbat in Balochistan and shot eight times by the FC soldier, reports Dawn News.

Suspect Shadiullah is already in police custody and a murder case has been registered against him on the complaint of the victim’s elder brother, Muhammad Murad Baloch, reports the Pakistani newspaper.

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