Protest in Quetta Demands Release of Dr. Mahrang and BYC Leaders

A protest rally was held in Quetta on Tuesday to protest the continued detention of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent human rights activist and key organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), along with other members of the organization. The demonstration saw a large turnout, including women and children, demonstrating their solidarity and concern over human rights violations in Balochistan. Participants carried photographs of individuals who have been forcibly disappeared and banners bearing the names of detained leaders, urging international organizations to pay attention to the ongoing abuses in the region.

The BYC clarified that the protest was planned as a peaceful gathering in an open field near Shahwani Stadium. However, they accused the provincial government, Quetta administration, police, and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of launching a preemptive crackdown aimed at suppressing the rally. The group alleged that authorities used force to prevent their peaceful demonstration from taking place as intended.

In their statement, BYC highlighted a perceived “separate legal standard” applied to the Baloch community. They claimed that speaking out against injustice, demanding basic rights, or protesting often results in arrests, enforced disappearances, or even death. Conversely, they argued, pro-state political parties and groups are allowed to hold public rallies freely, with no restrictions or repercussions.

The organization criticized what they called a “double standard” in the treatment of protesters. They pointed out that rallies in support of Palestine are permitted even near Quetta’s Red Zone, while peaceful protests by Baloch activists are not allowed, even in remote or designated areas. This selective permission, they said, underscores the discriminatory approach of the authorities.

BYC also accused the authorities of hypocrisy. They recalled that previously, the administration claimed that protests by BYC caused public inconvenience by blocking roads and thus were restricted to designated sites like the Press Club or Shahwani Stadium. However, they argued, this time police moved to sabotage their protest even when no roads were blocked, suggesting a biased approach to suppressing Baloch voices.

Ahead of the rally, the group claimed that more than a dozen individuals were arrested. Heavy police patrols and armored vehicles were deployed across the Sariab area, including around the University of Balochistan, to prevent the gathering. These measures were seen as attempts to intimidate and deter participants from exercising their right to protest.

In conclusion, BYC called on the Baloch people to resist what they described as an “inhuman, illegal, and colonial system.” They urged the community to expose the “discriminatory treatment” by the state and to continue raising their voices against injustice. The group reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful protest, emphasizing that despite repression, they would persist in speaking out for their rights and justice in Balochistan.