Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, founder of Gwadar-based rights movement Haq Do Tehreek, has been in prison for more than 80 days as his bail application in the case registered against him has been delayed because of the judge’s repeated absence. Rehman had had 19 cases related to vandalism and other offences registered against him, but was later granted bail by a sessions court in Gwadar in all cases, except one.
Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) is a protest movement against the government with issues comprising illegal trawling in Gwadar’s water, a high number of security checkpoints, and trade on the Pak-Iran border among others.
Several charges were brought up against Rehman after talks between the HDT’s leaders and the military commander in Balochistan failed over the protest demonstrations organised by the movement demanding basic rights.
Police had registered a First Information Report against Rehman and other leaders of the movement, including the former caretaker provincial minister Mir Naveed Kalmati, for causing damages to public and private properties.
Social media users have criticised a delay in the bail proceedings, saying that a Balochistan minister accused of rape and murder has been granted bail. However, Rehman has been in jail for more than 80 days now.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran is accused of murdering three people in his alleged private jail in Barkhan and was arrested after widespread protests in Balochistan in February, and was granted bail after 14 days.
Haq Do Tehreek leader, Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, who raised voice for the true rights of Gawadar,has been in jail since 3 months and not allowed to grant any bail. While Abdur Rehman khetran who is involved in triple-murder case,was recently granted bail.Deprived Balochistan
— Zia ur Rehman (@ZiaurRe9645576) March 28, 2023
Rehman’s bail application in the last case faced delays due to the transfer of the session judge hearing his case and the repeated absences of the new judge assigned to the case.
ہم جمہوری جدوجہد پر یقین رکھتےہیں، آئین کا احترام کرتےہوئے جعلی مقدمات کا سامنا بھی کر رہےہیں مگر سیشن جج کےتبادلے اور مسلسل دو سماعتوں پر غیرحاضری پر تشویش ہے۔ امید ہےعدالت اشرافیہ کےاشاروں پر نہیں بلکہ آئین کی بالادستی کےلیے کام کرےگی
مولانا ہدایت الرحمن بلوچ کا پیشی پر پیغام pic.twitter.com/ljsKZRJQy3— Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman Baloch (@MHidayatRehman) April 3, 2023
Social media users have also pointed out that the leaders of mainstream political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf were granted bail the same week they were arrested for vandalism by an Anti-terrorism Court (ATC). Meanwhile, the Baloch leader has been in jail for more than 80 days.
مولانا ہدایت الرحمان کے لئے کوئی کسی عدالت کے آئین پر دستخط نہیں دے رہا۔ مولانا پی ٹی آئی میں ہوتے تو جیل میں تین دن سے زیادہ نہ گزارتے۔ اسے کہتے ہیں ایک نہیں دو نظام ہائے انصاف ۔ https://t.co/crLrj3mdAF
— Saleem Safi (@SaleemKhanSafi) April 1, 2023
People have also been staging protest demonstrations against the arrest of the leader across Balochistan.
Earlier, a large number of women protesters led a rally in Gwadar.
