Pakistan foreign office has strongly condemned the Justice For Balochistan banners and reckless behaviour of a certain group of fans during the Pakistan-Afghanistan World Cup cricket match. The flying of Justice for Balochistan banner has added fuel to fire and deeply embarrassed Islamabad who have been accused by Baloch groups of committing atrocities in the region.
After India, Pakistan Gets Into Another Conflict With Afghanistan
“The flying of anti-Pakistan banners, unruly conduct of a certain group of spectators toward Pakistan team players, and scuffles during the Pakistan-Afghanistan World Cup cricket match are a matter of deep concern,” said a foreign office statement issued on Sunday.
Pakistan and Afghanistan fans clashed on Saturday in Leeds during the cricket match and a certain faction of Afghanistan supporters clashed with Pakistan fans and security officials and hurled abuses. According to the reports, Afghanistan fans also harassed a Pakistani journalist outside the stadium, although he remained safe during the incident.
During the Pakistan-Afghanistan clash, a plane flying with anti-Pakistan banners was spotted over the Headingley cricket ground bearing slogans ‘Justice for Balochistan’ and ‘Help end enforced disappearances in Pakistan’. The message was reportedly written by Baloch activists to highlight the disturbing human rights violation in Pakistan.
“JUSTICE FOR #BALOCHISTAN”: another plane in the sky during #PakvsAfg World Cup match at the Headingly Stadium, Leeds. #EndEnforcedDisappearances pic.twitter.com/4actrTD9a6
— BRPبلوچ رپبلکن پارٹی (@BRP_MediaCell) June 29, 2019
Activists from the World Baloch Organisation and the Baloch Republican Party have been aggressive in their campaign to showcase the deteriorating human rights violations in Pakistan.
Earlier, roadside advertisements were put up in Birmingham with slogans “Help end enforced disappearances in Pakistan”. The banners had gone up on major roads and junctions around the city including highways. This came after the city had hosted a World Cup match between Pakistan and New Zealand on June 26.
On June 23, Baloch Republican Party and World Baloch Organisation had organised a similar protest outside Lord’s cricket stadium in London, where the protestors distributed leaflets to raise awareness about enforced disappearances of Baloch and other religious minorities in Pakistan, even as the match between Pakistan and South Africa was underway. However, a group of Pakistani cricket fans tore down posters and banners put up by the Baloch activists.
