Amnesty International demands release of Baloch activists

Amnesty International has issued an urgent report calling for the immediate and unconditional release of detained leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Quetta. The report highlights the arbitrary nature of their detention and raises serious concerns about their safety and well-being while in custody. The individuals, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Beebarg Zehri, Beebow Baloch, Shah Jee Sibghat Ullah, Ghaffar Qambarani, and Gulzadi Baloch, have been targeted for their peaceful activism advocating for Baloch human rights and political freedoms.

The crackdown on the BYC leadership began in March 2025, with Beebarg Zehri, a central organizer, being detained by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in Quetta on March 20, along with his brother, Dr. Hammal Zehri. Amnesty expressed particular concern about Beebarg Zehri’s physical health, as he suffers from disabilities resulting from injuries sustained in a grenade explosion in 2010. The detention of these activists appears to be part of a broader effort to suppress dissent in Balochistan.

On March 22, 2025, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Beebow Baloch were arrested during a peaceful protest in Quetta, which followed the deaths of three protesters at the hands of law enforcement officials. Both women were detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), a colonial-era law increasingly criticized for its misuse to silence dissent. Reports indicate that Dr. Baloch suffered food poisoning during her detention and was denied access to healthcare and legal representation despite repeated requests.

Amnesty’s report also points to the detention of other activists, including Shah Jee Sibghat Ullah and Gulzadi Baloch, who were arrested in similar circumstances. The organization highlights instances where activists were subjected to physical abuse and arbitrary detention, often without proper legal justification. Ghaffar Qambarani, a senior political activist, was detained after a raid on his daughter’s residence, exemplifying the aggressive tactics used against Baloch rights defenders.

The organization condemns the continued use of anti-terrorism and public order laws, such as the MPO, to extend the detention of activists beyond legal limits. Amnesty notes that the detainees have exceeded the 90-day detention period prescribed by Pakistani law without any formal charges or legal proceedings. Despite being presented before an anti-terrorism court on July 8, 2025, they have yet to be formally charged with any terrorism-related offenses.

Amnesty International expresses grave concern over the physical and mental health of the detained activists, who are being denied adequate healthcare. The report emphasizes that their detention has taken a toll on their well-being and highlights the risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Families and lawyers face obstacles in accessing the detainees, further complicating efforts to ensure their rights are protected.

The report situates the detention of BYC leaders within a larger pattern of repression against Baloch activists and human rights defenders. It cites the alarming number of enforced disappearances documented in 2024—2,332 cases—many of which are linked to activists, journalists, and dissidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The crackdown has also included harassment and abductions of prominent figures like Gulzar Dost and Jalila Haider, further illustrating the widespread nature of repression.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee, a key organization advocating for regional political and human rights issues, has been targeted heavily by Pakistani authorities. Amnesty reports that several other activists and human rights defenders have been harassed, abducted, or criminalized in recent months. The organization warns that the ongoing repression undermines peaceful activism and obstructs efforts for justice and autonomy in Balochistan.

Amnesty International has called on the global community, human rights organizations, and civil society to exert pressure on the Pakistani government. The organization urges the government to release all detained activists immediately and to drop all charges against them. It emphasizes that the international community must hold Pakistan accountable for violating fundamental human rights and suppressing peaceful dissent.

The report concludes with a formal appeal to the Chief Minister of Balochistan, urging him to intervene and ensure the activists’ immediate release. Amnesty has also launched a campaign encouraging governments, international bodies, and human rights advocates to speak out against these injustices. The organization’s overarching message is a plea for justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental freedoms for the Baloch people.