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Today’s news: Globally, updates from the Middle East, and protests in Turkiye. Locally, Dr Mahrang Baloch’s arrest. Plus, IHC restores Imran Khan’s visitation rights and cotton growers face severe challenges.

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Around The World

Updates from the Middle East. Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza has continued with at least 21 Palestinians killed in attacks across the Strip today. The renewed assault comes hours after Israeli forces bombed the Nasser Hospital in Gaza, killing at least two people, including Hamas leader Ismail Barhoum. Across the border, at least seven people have been killed across Lebanon in the largest Israeli escalation since the November 27 ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Egypt has introduced a new proposal to try and get the ceasefire back on track. Hamas would release five living hostages, including an American-Israeli, in return for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and a weekslong pause in the fighting. Israel would also release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A Hamas official said the group had responded positively to the proposal.

Rights and wrongs. Turkish authorities detained several journalists from their homes amid escalating protests triggered by the imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul and top rival to President Erdogan. In response to his arrest, Sunday night saw a ramping up of the worst unrest the country has seen in more than a decade, with protesters fired upon with tear gas and rubber bullets. Erdogan has condemned the demonstrations and accused the CHP of trying to "disturb the peace and polarize our people.”

Story Of The Day - Mahrang Baloch Faces Terror Charges

What happened? On Saturday, police arrested Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), along with several Baloch activists after raiding their protest camp in Quetta. The arrests occurred during a province-wide wheel-jam strike, which followed a violent crackdown on a BYC protest the previous night. The group claims the crackdown left three people dead. According to BYC, its leader and supporters staged a sit-in with the bodies of the deceased, but authorities intervened and detained them.

However, authorities claim BYC activists attempted to take the bodies of militants involved in the March 11 Jaffar Express attack, which killed over 30 people and ended with a military operation that killed 33 militants. The government accuses BYC protesters of attacking law enforcement, resorting to violence, and attempting to glorify militants. Read more, here.  

Tell me about the arrest. Police have filed an FIR against Dr. Mahrang and 150 other individuals, charging them with a range of offenses, including terrorism, incitement to violence, murder, attempted murder, and forcibly taking the bodies of militants from a morgue in Quetta. Several other key BYC leaders are named in the FIR, including Beebow Baloch, Gulzadi Satakzai, Dr. Sabiha Baloch, and others. 

Dr. Mahrang’s arrest remains officially unannounced, but it is confirmed that she is in Quetta District Jail. 

What’s the latest? In response to the crackdown, protests erupted across Balochistan, including Turbat, Mastung, Kalat, Kharan, Chaghi, Dalbandin, Dhadar, and Panjgur. Shutter-down strikes are being observed, and demonstrators have blocked major highways, including the Turbat-Karachi and Quetta-Karachi roads, to protest the arrest. Police have responded with tear gas and baton charges, dispersing the protesters and reopening the blocked roads.

Additionally, internet services in Quetta and surrounding areas have been suspended for the fourth consecutive day. Despite claims from PTCL officials that services were restored on Sunday evening, residents continue to face significant disruptions. 

The Karachi commissioner has also imposed Section 144 across the city ahead of a planned Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) protest at the Karachi Press Club today against the detention of its leaders.

Pakistan

Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restored Imran Khan's visitation rights, allowing him to meet family, lawyers, and friends twice a week. This decision followed a hearing of 26 petitions related to his jail conditions and visitation rights. The IHC bench addressed issues raised by the Adiala Jail superintendent, including concerns over security and the potential misuse of meetings for political statements. Imran’s counsel argued that scheduled meetings were not held as per standard operating procedures, while jail authorities defended limiting meetings to security concerns. The IHC held that meetings would proceed under specific conditions, including no media discussions after meetings. 

Cotton it out. Cotton growers in Pakistan are facing severe challenges due to water shortages and a lack of certified seeds, casting doubt on the new cotton crop's prospects. Water levels in the country’s two major dams, Mangla and Tarbela, have dropped to critical levels. This has led to a significant shortage of canal water in key cotton-growing districts of Sindh, such as Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Umerkot, and others. The water scarcity is expected to delay the cotton crop's arrival, potentially causing a spike in domestic cotton prices. Adverse weather has also caused cotton seeds to sprout less than usual, with germination rates down to 40-50%, much lower than the 75% needed for good-quality seeds. As a result, farmers are using non-certified seeds, which may produce lower cotton yields.

What else is happening?

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