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Mahrang Baloch
Mahrang Baloch
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Mahrang Baloch[a] (born 1 January 1993) is a Baloch human rights activist who advocates against alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses in Balochistan, Pakistan. She is the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).

Key Information

Biography

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Mahrang was born in 1993 into a Baloch family. Her father, Abdul Gaffar Langove, was a political activist who spoke out against humans rights violations in Pakistan.[3] She has a brother, Nasir Baloch, and several sisters, including Iqra Baloch[4][5][6]

Baloch is a medical professional, having earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Bolan Medical College in Quetta.[7]

Activism

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On 11 December 2009, her father was abducted by Pakistani security forces while on his way to the hospital in Karachi, but he was released.[8][3][9] At 16, she began protesting his abduction and quickly became a prominent figure in the student resistance movement.[8][9][10] In July 2011, her father was abducted again and later found dead, showing signs of torture.[8][9]

In December 2017, her brother was also abducted, and released.[9][10][11] Since then, she has emerged as a leading figure in the Baloch resistance movement, protesting against the government's extraction of natural resources from Balochistan.[10][12] In 2020, she led a group of students in a protest against the proposed removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College, which reserves spots for medical students from remote areas of the province.[8] As a result of the group's activism and hunger strikes, the proposed policy change was cancelled.[8]

Baloch has gained international support from prominent figures, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, who expressed her solidarity by tweeting, "Climate justice activists worldwide stand with Mahrang Baloch and other peaceful protesters who have been detained, tortured, and harassed by Islamabad Police for speaking out against human rights violations in Balochistan." This support emerged during the long march from Turbat to Islamabad, when Baloch women faced intense repression from state forces. Similarly, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai voiced her backing, tweeting, "I stand with my Baloch sisters who are demanding accountability for enforced disappearances. Peaceful protest is their right, and their voices must be heard." [13][14][15][16]

Baloch leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).[17][18] On 28 July 2024, she participated in the Baloch Raji Muchi (Baloch National Gathering) in Gwadar, an event aimed at uniting the Baloch against these alleged abuses.[19][7]

Recent developments

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2023 Baloch Long March

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Main article: Baloch long march

The Baloch Long March was a protest movement led by Baloch and other women activists from the Baloch Youth Congress (BYC). They journeyed from Turbat to Islamabad to protest human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan.[20][2] According to the BYC, the protesters were detained by the Islamabad Police.[21] Later, a bail was approved, leading to the release of some participants, although many remained missing, according to media reports and lawyers.[22][23][24]

2024 Time magazine recognition and travel ban

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In October 2024, Time magazine named Baloch one of the 100 emerging influential leaders of the year, recognising her extraordinary courage in opposing state oppression and her relentless advocacy against enforced disappearances and human rights violations in Balochistan.[25][26] However, she was barred from traveling to New York City for a Time event and faced harassment at Jinnah International Airport. While returning home with Sammi Baloch, she endured further harassment from FIA officials, who confiscated her passport and mobile phone and attempted to abduct her. According to her lawyer, it was discovered that the Government of Pakistan had quietly added her to the Pakistan National Identity List (PNIL), a registry for individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities such as terrorism, money laundering, and fraud – just days after she appeared on Time magazine's influential list on 3 October.[27][28] In response, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan called for "freedom of movement" for Baloch, while Mary Lawlor, a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defender, expressed deep concern on social media about the incident, citing reports of "harassment, intimidation and mistreatment".[29]

Political harassment

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On 11 October 2024, just days after Baloch was barred from traveling abroad, an anti-terrorism case was filed against her in the Malir District of Qaidabad by a local businessman. The complainant in the first information report accused Baloch of "inciting violence in his area", despite the Quaidabad station house officer being unable to confirm any such activities by Baloch or her colleagues.[30][31] Baloch dismissed the charges as fabricated, attributing the case to the state's discomfort with her activism. She stated that such reports aim to intimidate those involved in their collective struggle.[30]

2025 arrest

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On 22 March 2025, Baloch was arrested during a raid on a sit-in protest in Quetta. The Balochistan government accused her and other Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) activists of orchestrating an attack on Quetta Civil Hospital and inciting violence. The same day, a violent protest broke out in Quetta when the BYC, led by Baloch, demanded the return of the bodies of those killed during the military operation following the 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking. According to a police report, protesters entered Civil Hospital Quetta and forcibly took possession of the militants' bodies.[32][33] Her arrest took place during a wider police crackdown on BYC demonstrations against enforced disappearances.[34][35][36] Baloch's arrest occurred amid a broader police crackdown on BYC demonstrations against enforced disappearances.[37] In July, she was presented before an Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta, which granted police a ten-day physical remand.[38] On 18 July, the remand was extended for an additional fifteen days, and she has since remained under remand on multiple occasions.[39]

Following her arrest, authorities linked Baloch to protests in Quetta, where clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces, and claimed that a demonstration against enforced disappearances escalated into violence, with slogans and actions considered anti-state. However, human rights organisations and her supporters have refuted these allegations, asserting that the protests remained peaceful and that she is being unjustly targeted.[40][41]

In October, the BYC stated that the government had decided to conduct proceedings against Baloch and other group leaders in Quetta District Jail, rather than in an open Anti-Terrorism Court. The organisation described this as a "disturbing display of institutionalised repression".[42] Several lawyers and human rights observers have questioned the fairness of the trial, raising concerns about due process.[43]

International condemnation

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The arrest sparked international condemnation from human rights organisations and prominent figures, including Malala Yousafzai and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, who called for her immediate release.[44]

In a statement issued on 26 March 2025, a group of independent United Nations human rights experts expressed deep concern over the detention of Baloch. The experts criticized the Pakistani authorities for allegedly using arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and excessive force in response to peaceful protests. They called for the immediate release of Baloch and others detained, urging the government to refrain from misusing counter-terrorism measures against human rights activists and to clarify the whereabouts of those allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance.[45]

Mistreatment during imprisonment

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On 23 March 2025, following her arrest, Baloch was detained at Hudda District Prison under conditions described by her family and legal team as harsh and unlawful. According to her sister, Nadia Baloch, she appeared "weak and stressed" during a brief visit, and authorities denied her access to legal counsel and barred food brought by her family. She was reportedly held in isolation and not informed of any formal charges. Her lawyer, Imran Baloch, stated that the state had escalated its actions against her following her inclusion in the TIME100 Next list and her nomination for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.[44]

Awards and nominations

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In December 2024, Baloch was included in the BBC's 100 Women list.[46] Time magazine also named Baloch in its TIME100 Next list,[25] which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more".[47]

In March 2025, Baloch confirmed through X that she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.[48]

Notes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Mahrang Baloch

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from Grokipedia
Mahrang Baloch (born 3 February 1993) is a Pakistani Baloch medical doctor and human rights activist prominent for leading campaigns against alleged s and extrajudicial killings in province. As leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), she organized a long march from to in December 2023, covering over 1,600 kilometers to protest state-sponsored abuses, drawing thousands and international scrutiny. Her activism stems from personal tragedy, as her father was subjected to in 2009, briefly released, and later found dead under suspicious circumstances. Baloch's efforts have amplified Baloch grievances amid Pakistan's counterinsurgency operations, but she faces accusations from Pakistani authorities of serving as a proxy for the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a designated terrorist group responsible for attacks including the March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking. On 22 March 2025, she was arrested during a protest in Quetta and charged with terrorism, murder, and sedition under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act, remaining in detention as of October 2025 with ongoing trials marked by delays. Her case has prompted calls for release from UN experts and human rights organizations, who view the charges as reprisal for peaceful advocacy, though Pakistani officials link BYC protests to separatist violence.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Personal Losses

Mahrang Baloch was born on February 3, 1993, in , as the eldest of six siblings, comprising five sisters and one brother. Her father, Abdul Gaffar Langove, was a prominent Baloch nationalist leader advocating for regional rights. The family resided in a context of ongoing ethnic tensions in , where Langove's placed them at risk from state security forces. In December 2009, when Baloch was 16 years old, her father was abducted by unidentified individuals, marking the beginning of her family's direct confrontation with enforced disappearances. Nearly two years later, in July 2011, his tortured and bullet-riddled body was recovered in , bearing evident signs of severe abuse. This loss profoundly shaped Baloch's early life, prompting her to protest publicly by burning schoolbooks outside the Press Club as a demand for . The family's tragedies continued in December 2017, when her brother, Nasir Baloch, was forcibly disappeared amid similar allegations of state involvement. Reports indicate he endured torture during captivity, though his ultimate fate remains tied to unresolved claims of release under duress. These sequential losses within her immediate family underscore the personal stakes driving Baloch's subsequent advocacy in a region plagued by thousands of documented disappearances.

Academic Training and Medical Qualifications

Mahrang Baloch earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Bolan Medical College in , , Pakistan's primary medical institution in the province. This five-year undergraduate program provided her with foundational training in clinical , , and public health, qualifying her to practice as a physician under Pakistan's regulatory framework governed by the . During her medical studies, Baloch balanced academic pursuits with early involvement in advocacy, including support for families affected by enforced disappearances in , though she prioritized completing her degree amid regional instability. No public records indicate postgraduate specialization beyond her MBBS, such as residency in gynecology or , despite occasional unverified claims; her professional identity remains tied to general medical practice in the region. Her training emphasized healthcare delivery in underserved areas, aligning with 's challenges in medical and access.

Professional Background

Medical Career in Balochistan

Mahrang Baloch earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Bolan Medical College in , the primary medical institution in province. Following graduation, she entered medical practice in the region as a physician affiliated with a government , engaging in postgraduate training regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP), which limits house officers to 15 days of leave per six months with supervisor approval. Her professional role involved direct patient care, though specific hospital assignments beyond provincial government facilities remain undocumented in . As a general , Baloch's work centered on clinical duties in Balochistan's under-resourced healthcare system, where she treated patients amid the province's challenges with limited medical . However, her increasing involvement in advocacy led to reports of irregular attendance, with social media evidence and hospital complaints citing frequent absences for protests rather than scheduled shifts. In October 2024, Pakistani media outlets reported backlash from colleagues and patients over her two-week attempt to travel abroad without fulfilling duties, highlighting tensions between her medical obligations and activist commitments. Baloch's medical career effectively paused following her on March 22, 2025, during a in , after which she was detained in Hudda District Prison, denying her the ability to resume practice. Prior to this, her dual roles as doctor and organizer for the Baloch Yakjehti intertwined, with often prioritizing campaigns against enforced disappearances over attendance, as noted in contemporaneous coverage from Pakistani sources sympathetic to state perspectives.

Rise to Activism

Entry into Human Rights Advocacy

Mahrang Baloch's entry into advocacy stemmed from personal experiences with enforced disappearances in her family, beginning in her early teenage years. In 2006, at age 13, she was first detained by Pakistani authorities for protesting the abduction of her father, marking her initial public confrontation with state practices in . This event occurred amid broader patterns of alleged extrajudicial abductions targeting Baloch nationalists, with her father, a local political figure, among those affected prior to a more widely documented incident. The disappearance of her father, Ghaffar Baloch, on December 12, 2009, when Baloch was 16, intensified her involvement, propelling her into organized student protests against enforced disappearances. She emerged as a leading voice among Baloch students, utilizing banners, slogans, and demonstrations to demand accountability, continuing these efforts for over two years until his tortured body was recovered on July 1, 2011. During this period, Baloch aligned with the Baloch Students Organisation-Azad, focusing on mobilizing youth against custodial killings and abductions prevalent in the region. Her advocacy emphasized empirical documentation of cases, including CCTV footage of abductions, to challenge official denials. Baloch's transition from these student-led actions to broader work was further catalyzed by her brother Nasir's abduction in December 2017, held incommunicado for approximately three months before release. While pursuing her medical studies and early career, she increasingly employed platforms like to amplify voices of affected families, shifting from localized protests to coordinated awareness campaigns on systemic issues in . This phase laid the groundwork for her leadership in non-violent resistance, prioritizing recovery of the disappeared over unsubstantiated narratives of militancy.

Leadership in Baloch Yakjehti Committee

Mahrang Baloch assumed a leading role in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a civil rights group formed to address enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in , following the 2018 abduction of her brother, which prompted her to mobilize affected families. As a trained doctor, she channeled her professional expertise into organizing support networks for victims' relatives, positioning BYC as a platform for non-violent advocacy centered on documentation and public awareness of state-sponsored abuses. In June 2024, BYC formalized its structure by establishing a central organizing body, electing Baloch as central organizer and Wahab Baloch as , marking a shift toward institutionalized to coordinate district-level chapters across . This role solidified her authority in directing strategy, including rallies and sit-ins that unified disparate Baloch communities under demands for accountability, while rejecting armed resistance in favor of legal and protest-based methods. Baloch's leadership emphasizes women's participation, drawing from her own experiences as a female activist in a patriarchal society, and has expanded BYC's focus to include opposition to resource exploitation projects perceived as enabling disappearances, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Despite government designations of BYC figures on anti-terror lists, she maintains the group's commitment to peaceful resistance, attributing internal cohesion to shared grievances over thousands of unresolved cases.

Major Campaigns and Protests

2023 Baloch Long March

The 2023 Baloch was a women-led organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), spearheaded by Mahrang Baloch, to demand an end to enforced disappearances and s in . It was triggered by the alleged of Balach Mola Bakhsh, a young Baloch man reportedly killed by on November 23, 2023, following his abduction. The march commenced on December 6, 2023, from in , with participants trekking toward to highlight ongoing abuses against the Baloch community. Participants, primarily Baloch women and families of the disappeared, faced significant hardships during the over 1,000-kilometer journey, including cold weather, limited resources, and state obstruction. Upon approaching province, at least 20 protesters were detained on December 17, 2023, in without legal justification, according to reports. Mahrang Baloch herself was arrested twice during the campaign, underscoring the authorities' efforts to suppress the demonstration. The protesters reached by late December, where they staged a and issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government on December 28, 2023, to address their grievances, threatening escalation if unmet. Pakistani authorities responded with allegations of separatist affiliations among organizers and deployed excessive force, including baton charges and live ammunition threats, to disperse gatherings. International observers, such as , condemned the harassment and arbitrary detentions as violations of peaceful assembly rights. The march amplified global attention to Balochistan's issues but yielded no immediate concessions, with the persisting into early 2024 amid ongoing tensions. BYC maintained that the campaign exposed systemic abuses, while official narratives framed it as disruptive to .

2024 Protests and International Visibility

In July 2024, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), led by Mahrang Baloch, organized the Baloch Raaji Muchi, or Baloch National Gathering, on July 28 in , , to protest against alleged resource exploitation, enforced disappearances, and state-sponsored . The event aimed to serve as a public on these issues, drawing thousands despite security forces imposing roadblocks, deploying , and making arrests; three demonstrators were killed during the suppression. A subsequent in Gwadar, beginning late July, lasted until August 9, when authorities agreed to release detained activists, highlighting the protests' pressure on local governance. Throughout 2024, BYC under Baloch's leadership held additional gatherings in cities including on August 18, , Kalat, Panjgur, and Noshki, attracting crowds of 10,000 to 50,000 relatives of the disappeared and supporters advocating non-violently for accountability. Earlier, on January 25, Baloch marked "Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day" and addressed thousands in on January 27, sustaining momentum from prior campaigns against over 10,000 reported enforced disappearances in the region. These events emphasized peaceful resistance, contrasting with government claims of separatist incitement, and faced consistent crackdowns including live fire and detentions. The scale and persistence of these 2024 protests elevated Baloch's international profile, culminating in her inclusion in TIME magazine's TIME100 Next list on October 2 for advancing Baloch rights amid turmoil. On December 3, the named her among its 100 inspiring women of 2024, recognizing her role in amplifying the Baloch struggle globally through non-violent advocacy. Coverage in outlets like underscored how her leadership united disparate Baloch factions, drawing cross-border solidarity and media scrutiny to Pakistan's handling of the unrest, though Pakistani authorities dismissed the visibility as foreign-backed propaganda.

Recognition and Restrictions

Awards and Media Honors

In 2024, Baloch was selected for TIME magazine's TIME100 Next list, recognizing emerging leaders for her advocacy in defending minority rights amid enforced disappearances and state repression in Balochistan. Pakistani authorities barred her from traveling to the United States to attend the associated gala event in New York on October 9, 2024, placing her on a no-fly list shortly after the announcement. Baloch was named to the BBC's 100 Women list on December 3, 2024, highlighting influential figures worldwide for her in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and protests against abuses. The selection underscored her role in mobilizing thousands during the 2023 Baloch Long March to , drawing global attention to extrajudicial killings and disappearances. In March 2025, Baloch received a nomination for the , one of 338 candidates that year, for her non-violent campaign against enforced disappearances and for amplifying Baloch voices internationally. The nomination, supported by groups like the (UNPO), reflected her persistence despite government harassment, though it also sparked debate over her alleged ties to separatist elements.

Imposed Travel Bans and Harassment

On October 7, 2024, Pakistani authorities barred Mahrang Baloch from boarding a flight at airport to travel to New York for a TIME100 Gala event recognizing her advocacy. Baloch reported that immigration officials cited unspecified security concerns, effectively imposing a restriction without prior formal notification, which she described as an attempt to curtail her and expression. In response, she announced plans to legally challenge the ban in Pakistani courts, arguing it violated her rights under the . These restrictions extended from earlier placements on Pakistan's watch list, which authorities invoked to justify monitoring and prohibiting her international travel, including after her attendance at a human rights conference in in July 2024. Baloch has faced repeated denials of exit permissions, with officials linking her to alleged militant sympathies, though she maintains these measures target her peaceful protests against enforced disappearances. Harassment by state agencies has included , interrogations, and tactics. In April 2025, Baloch Yakjehti Committee reported that Pakistani officials subjected her to a five-hour questioning session under the of investigation, alongside other leaders, amid a broader crackdown on Baloch activists. Earlier instances involved alleged assassination attempts and smear campaigns discrediting her work, which groups attribute to efforts to silence dissent in . Such actions align with documented patterns of targeting Baloch defenders through unlawful and public order pretexts, as noted in international reports.

Controversies

Accusations of Separatist Sympathies

Pakistani authorities have accused Mahrang Baloch of harboring separatist sympathies due to her in the Baloch Yakjehti (BYC), which they claim facilitates operations of Baloch insurgent groups seeking from . On October 12, 2024, police in filed terrorism charges against her under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act, alleging she incited unrest by making unsubstantiated claims against security forces and supported armed separatist activities in the province. These accusations portray her advocacy as a cover for promoting , with officials linking BYC protests to broader insurgent violence, including attacks on infrastructure like the China-Pakistan projects. Military spokespersons have labeled Baloch a "terrorist proxy," asserting that her failure to denounce Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) operations demonstrates tacit endorsement of . In public statements, Pakistan's (ISPR) has described BYC rallies as aligned with "anti-state elements," citing Baloch's international advocacy—such as speeches referencing Balochistan's historical quest for —as evidence of disloyalty to the Pakistani state. Baloch has rejected these claims as fabricated, demanding verifiable proof and framing them as retaliation for exposing enforced disappearances, which she attributes to tactics rather than legitimate security measures. Critics outside government circles, including Pakistani analysts, argue that Baloch's selective focus on alleged state atrocities—while omitting condemnations of separatist killings of civilians and security personnel—fuels perceptions of ideological alignment with independence movements. For instance, commentary has highlighted her engagements in forums discussing "" and as implicitly supportive of secessionist goals, though she maintains her work centers on non-violent rights reforms within Pakistan's framework. These accusations have intensified amid Balochistan's ongoing , where groups like the BLA explicitly demand sovereignty, contrasting with Baloch's public disavowal of violence but persistent emphasis on ethnic grievances.

Refusal to Condemn Baloch Militant Attacks

Mahrang Baloch, as leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has drawn criticism for not explicitly denouncing attacks by Baloch militant groups, including the (BLA), which the designated a foreign terrorist organization. In 2024 alone, the BLA claimed responsibility for 938 attacks in , targeting security personnel, civilians, and infrastructure, yet Baloch and the BYC issued no public condemnations of these operations. This pattern persisted into 2025; following the BLA's March 11 assault on a in , which killed at least 26 people and injured dozens, the BYC prioritized protests against the Pakistani military's ensuing counteroperations over any rebuke of the militants' role in initiating the violence. Critics, including analysts of South Asian security, attribute this reluctance to a strategic alignment with separatist narratives, where condemning risks undermining claims that stems solely from state repression, potentially alienating BYC's base or inviting militant reprisals. Baloch has maintained that the BYC remains committed to non-violence, emphasizing in a June 2025 statement from detention that her movement rejects armed struggle while holding the state accountable for its responses. In a May 2025 post responding to Pakistani spokespersons, she asserted, "I have consistently condemned violence, whether committed by the state or others," without referencing specific BLA incidents. This selective emphasis on state-perpetrated harms, while omitting militant actions that often provoke escalations, has fueled accusations of tacit endorsement for groups pursuing Baloch independence through force, complicating the BYC's framing amid verifiable militant tactics like bombings and ambushes. Independent verification of conflict dynamics in remains challenging due to restricted access and competing claims, but the absence of targeted denunciations from Baloch contrasts with her vocal critiques of Pakistani forces.

Pakistani Government Counterarguments

The Pakistani military's (ISPR) Directorate General accused Mahrang Baloch of acting as a proxy for terrorists on , 2025, during a press briefing, claiming her leadership of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) served to mask militant activities under the guise of advocacy. ISPR urged media outlets to expose Baloch and the BYC's "sinister designs," asserting that the group's protests were not peaceful but aligned with separatist agendas, including those of groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). In response to international criticism, including UN experts' calls for the release of Baloch activists following arrests in March 2025, Pakistan's Foreign dismissed the statements as lacking "balance and proportionality" on March 27, 2025, arguing they relied on "selective and unverified media reports" that ignored the context of in . The FO contended that detained individuals, including BYC members, were "active participants in a broader campaign of and ," citing incidents where protesters stormed hospitals to seize bodies of militants killed in operations, such as after a BLA-claimed attack that killed over 30 people. Pakistani officials emphasized the state's right to enforce public order and counter , downplaying claims of arbitrary detentions by framing them as necessary responses to insurgent threats rather than abuses. Government statements have further challenged Baloch's narratives by alleging that many listed "missing persons" include verified militants eliminated in operations, as highlighted in a July 29, 2025, official disclosure linking BYC's lists to terrorists like Suhaib Langov, killed in a Kalat raid and falsely portrayed as a victim. Authorities have portrayed BYC campaigns, including the 2023-2024 long marches, as disruptive to development projects like the China-Pakistan and as proxies influenced by external actors, such as Indian intelligence, to destabilize the region amid ongoing separatist violence. These counterarguments position Baloch's activism as complicit in or enabling , justifying restrictions and arrests as measures to safeguard rather than suppress dissent.

Arrest and Imprisonment

2025 Arrest Circumstances

On March 22, 2025, at approximately 5:30 a.m., Dr. Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was arrested by during a raid on a peaceful protest in , the capital of province, . The , held on Saryab Road, had been organized by BYC activists to protest police violence the previous day, March 21, when security forces allegedly opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in three deaths and several injuries. Protesters were in possession of the victims' bodies, demanding the release of detained BYC members, including Bebarg Zehri arrested on March 20, and an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions. Authorities used batons and to disperse the gathering, seized the bodies, and detained Baloch along with other activists such as Beebow Baloch. Pakistani authorities justified the arrests by alleging that Baloch and associates had attacked Civil Hospital and incited riots, with the occurring near the facility amid heightened tensions following a Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) train hijacking on March 11. organizations, including Front Line Defenders and , characterized the protest as non-violent and the raid as an arbitrary crackdown to silence Baloch advocacy, noting initial denial of family access for nearly 12 hours and restricted lawyer visits pending a . Baloch was transferred to Hudda District Prison in , where concerns arose over provision of food and medical care, with family-supplied items reportedly barred. The government's Foreign Office later dismissed international calls for her release, such as from UN experts, as politically motivated interference. Mahrang Baloch was arrested on March 22, 2025, by during a peaceful protest in against police violence that had killed three protesters the previous day. She was initially placed under preventative detention pursuant to Article 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, 1960, allowing up to 30 days' custody without formal charges, which was repeatedly extended. Subsequent charges included under Section 124-A of the (PPC), as well as under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, alongside PPC Sections 148 (rioting), 149 (), 153-A (inciting to ), and 500 (). These stemmed from allegations of inciting violence, conducting an anti-state campaign, spreading seditious material, and supporting terrorists, as detailed in FIRs such as 654/2024 registered on October 11, 2024, at Quaidabad in , leading to Special Case 100/2025. Baloch and co-accused including Sibghatullah Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Beebarg Baloch, and Gulzadi Baloch faced physical remands extended multiple times by Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in and , including a 20-day extension on August 2, 2025, and a 15-day extension earlier that month. Proceedings advanced unevenly across jurisdictions; on June 12, 2025, Baloch's family petitioned Pakistan's to overturn a provincial ruling upholding her arrest under MPO. An ATC-V in granted her on September 14, 2025, in the and case tied to FIR 654/2024, requiring a Rs100,000 surety bond and deeming the matter suitable for further , amid observations of absent independent witnesses and a delayed charge sheet filed on August 16, 2025. However, a separate jail at Quetta District Jail, presided over by Judge Muhammad Ali Mobin, addressed charges under ATA and PPC; on October 13, 2025, the prosecution failed to submit the (formal charge report), prompting postponement to October 18, 2025. As of October 24, 2025, Special Case 100/2025 was fixed for orders on acquittal applications, following prior hearings including one on September 19, 2025.

Detention Conditions and Allegations

Mahrang Baloch was reportedly held in Hudda Jail in following her arrest on March 22, 2025, where she experienced food poisoning attributed to unhygienic conditions and was denied access to a specialist physician despite repeated requests from her . organizations have raised alarms over inadequate healthcare provision, noting that Baloch and other detainees faced risks of and were subjected to arbitrary detention without , including an initial period of nearly 12 hours during which her whereabouts were unknown and access to or legal counsel was barred. Family members and advocates have documented ongoing concerns about substandard prison facilities, including limited medical access and potential reprisals for Baloch's activism with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), amid broader patterns of enforced disappearances and suppression in Balochistan. In communications from detention, Baloch has described harsh conditions, including reports of physical abuse and a hunger strike among inmates protesting their treatment, though Pakistani authorities have not publicly confirmed or refuted these specifics. Allegations of violations persist, with Baloch's detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance extended beyond initial 90-day limits without judicial oversight, exacerbating health risks in a facility criticized for and poor by monitoring groups. These reports, drawn from direct appeals and on-site assessments, underscore systemic issues in Balochistan's custodial practices, though independent verification remains limited due to restricted access.

International and Domestic Responses

Global Condemnation and Support

Following the arrest of Mahrang Baloch on March 22, 2025, during a peaceful protest in organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), multiple experts issued a joint statement on March 26 demanding her immediate release along with other detained activists. The experts, including special rapporteurs on defenders and of peaceful assembly, described the detentions as arbitrary and part of a pattern of state repression against nonviolent Baloch protesters seeking accountability for enforced disappearances, noting that Baloch's whereabouts were unknown for nearly 12 hours post-arrest. Amnesty International condemned the incident as a "systematic attack and relentless crackdown" on Baloch activists, calling for the unconditional release of Baloch and others held under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and terrorism charges, emphasizing that such actions violate rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. In a May 27 report co-signed with four other organizations, highlighted ongoing harassment of women defenders like Baloch, urging to end arbitrary detentions targeting ethnic minorities. PEN International echoed these demands on July 11, 2025, labeling Baloch's detention arbitrary and symptomatic of a campaign to silence Baloch voices, particularly women challenging state narratives on security and disappearances; the group stressed the heightened risks to female activists in Pakistan's ethnic minority regions. Similarly, Defenders advocated for her prompt release, portraying her as a key campaigner against systemic abuses by Pakistani authorities in . Civil society coalitions amplified global support, with the Miaan Group and 20 other organizations issuing a joint call on April 29 for Baloch's release, framing her work as essential to documenting enforced disappearances affecting thousands in . Hindus for expressed outrage on March 26, urging Pakistani authorities to free BYC members and halt cycles of arbitrary detention, while aligning with broader international for Baloch self-determination and justice. These responses positioned Baloch as a symbol of resistance against extrajudicial practices, though governmental endorsements remained limited to statements from sympathetic networks rather than state actors.

Domestic Reactions and Broader Context

The arrest of Mahrang Baloch on March 22, 2025, prompted widespread protests within province, particularly in , where supporters from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and families of the allegedly disappeared rallied against her detention, framing it as part of a broader pattern of state suppression of ethnic Baloch voices. These demonstrations, often led by women, demanded her immediate release alongside accountability for enforced disappearances, echoing the BYC's 2023-2024 to that drew thousands highlighting similar grievances. In contrast, mainstream Pakistani political and media outlets reported the events through the lens of official charges, with little vocal domestic support outside Baloch nationalist circles; petitions to the and by her family sought and bail, but were largely rejected or delayed, underscoring limited judicial sympathy in state institutions. Pakistani authorities, including security forces, responded by portraying Baloch as aligned with destabilizing elements, with the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) labeling her a "proxy of terrorists" amid accusations of inciting violence during protests against the burial of unidentified bodies at Quetta Civil Hospital. This stance aligned with FIRs charging her and up to 150 BYC affiliates with terrorism, sedition, rebellion, and murder for alleged attacks on public infrastructure and provocation of unrest, reflecting the government's view that such activism indirectly bolsters separatist militants like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Negotiations faltered when Baloch and figures like Balochistan National Party leader Akhtar Mengal rejected conditional release offers requiring cessation of protests, highlighting entrenched distrust between activists and the state. In the broader context of Balochistan's chronic instability, Baloch's non-violent advocacy via the BYC—focusing on sit-ins and marches against disappearances estimated in the thousands by monitors—represents a counterpoint to armed insurgency, yet her reluctance to explicitly condemn BLA attacks has fueled official narratives of tacit sympathy for . The , rich in gas and minerals but underdeveloped, has seen cycles of grievances over resource exploitation (e.g., via China-Pakistan projects), alleged military excesses, and militant reprisals killing security personnel and civilians, with the state prioritizing counter-terrorism operations over addressing root causes like marginalization and lack of provincial . This polarization domesticates reactions to Baloch's case, confining robust support to ethnic enclaves while national discourse, influenced by security imperatives, emphasizes threats to over .

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