Baloch activists on Monday began a week-long sit-in protest outside the Chinese embassy in London, accusing China of “helping” Pakistan in committing “atrocities and human rights violations” in Balochistan province.
Activists of Free Baloch Movement of Baloch nationalist Harbiyar Marri sought legal permission to protest for six days and nights till October 1, the Chinese National Day.
“We will sit here for a week 24 hours everyday. China is helping Pakistan with the human rights violations in Balochistan. Despite several Baloch warnings, China continues exploiting Baloch resources and is an official partner of Pakistan in Baloch atrocities,” said Faiz Muhammad Baloch, a protester and activist from Free Balochistan Movement.
The protesters started gathering outside the Chinese embassy on Sunday night.
They also protested against the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor and said that China is looting the Baloch resources while people of Balochistan are condemned to live amid negligence and poverty.
Meanwhile, in a blow to Pakistan’s belief that its all-weather friend China will stand by it, irrespective of the circumstances of the day, Beijing has rejected media reports that it has extended “full support to Pakistan.”
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Yu Boren said that he was “not aware” of comments attributed to him in Pakistani media that China will extend its full support to Pakistan “incase of any (foreign) aggression.”
“I am not aware of the situation you mentioned. But China’s position on the relevant issue is consistent and clear,” the spokesperson said.
A recent report in Pakistani newspaper DAWN, citing a press release issued by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s Office, had also quoted Yu as saying: “We’re and will be siding with Pakistan on Kashmir issue…There is no justification for atrocities on unarmed Kashmiris in…[India-] held Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute should be solved in accordance with aspirations of the Kashmiris.”
