Quetta, March 23 -- Protest leaders in Quetta, Balochistan, have accused Pakistani security forces of staging arson attacks on government buildings and private property to justify further crackdowns on peaceful protesters, as reported by the Balochistan Post.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which has been organizing the demonstrations, claimed in a statement that plainclothes security personnel intentionally set fires to properties and opened fire on civilians on Saturday evening, the Balochistan Post cited.

According to the Balochistan Post, the BYC argued that the violence was a deliberate effort by Pakistani authorities to falsely portray the peaceful protest movement as violent. The group condemned the state's actions, calling ...