Balochistan’s ‘Black Day’

For most Pakistanis, March 27 carries no serious significance, but for some in Balochistan, the country’s poorest province, it is a day of mourning. Using #27thMarchBlackDay, Baloch citizens and activists commemorate what they say was the annexation of Balochistan in 1948 by Pakistan’s armed forces.    

Many districts in the province observed strikes, closing down businesses, shops and transportation as the presence of security forces increased. The Baloch National Front (BNF), an alliance of political parties that campaign for an independent Balochistan, called for protests and resistance against the Pakistani government.