Mahrang Baloch moves Pakistan SC against ATA bail denial, cites jail abuse
Synopsis
Mahrang Baloch, Pakistan's most prominent Baloch rights activist, has taken her fight to the Supreme Court after the Balochistan High Court rejected her bail under the Anti-Terrorism Act. From a 20-square-metre solitary cell in Quetta, she has detailed beatings, medical neglect, and the enforced disappearance of her cousins — painting a picture of systematic pressure on Baloch dissent.
Key Takeaways
Mahrang Baloch filed a petition in Pakistan's Supreme Court on 28 April challenging denial of bail under the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act .
The Balochistan High Court rejected her bail application on 23 February ; the petition was filed by advocate Jibran Nasir .
She has been held at District Jail Quetta since August last year , following initial MPO detentions beginning March last year .
Mahrang reported suffering a slipped disc and radiculopathy since October 2025 , requiring hospitalisation in February .
Her 19-year-old cousin Saifullah Baloch was reportedly picked up on 12 March and remains missing; cousin Salal Baloch was also allegedly forcibly disappeared.
Activist Beebow Baloch was allegedly beaten during a jail transfer; activist Beebarg Zehri reportedly developed a medical condition due to poor cell conditions.
Leading Baloch human rights activist and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organiser Mahrang Baloch has approached Pakistan's Supreme Court challenging the denial of post-arrest bail in a case registered against her under the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), local media reported on Tuesday, 28 April. The petition was filed by advocate Jibran Nasir after the Balochistan High Court (BHC) rejected her bail application on 23 February.
Background of the Case
The case stems from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Quetta in January last year, according to Pakistan's leading daily Dawn. The FIR alleged that Mahrang Baloch — whose name was added to the Fourth Schedule of the ATA via a government notification dated 23 October 2024 — failed to appear for mandatory check-ins and continued participating in public processions and sit-ins. Authorities additionally alleged she was facilitating the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a charge her supporters have contested.
Mahrang Baloch was first arrested in March last year and detained under the Balochistan Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for 30 days. Her detention was extended twice, each time by another 30 days. Before the third detention order expired, she was taken into custody under a separate FIR — the one now before the Supreme Court. She was formally arrested under this second case in August last year, nearly six months after the FIR was lodged, despite already being held at District Jail Quetta. She is currently incarcerated there.
Conditions of Confinement
In a letter published in leading British daily The Guardian earlier this month, Mahrang described her solitary confinement in a 20-square-metre cell at Central Jail Huda in Quetta as deliberately harsh, with
Point of View
Yet the legal architecture enabling it remains intact. Mahrang Baloch's case is notable not just for what it reveals about Balochistan's security apparatus, but for the breadth of pressure being applied: her siblings, cousins, and fellow activists are all reportedly targeted. The Supreme Court petition is significant because Pakistani superior courts have, on occasion, provided relief in high-profile ATA cases — but the government's ability to relist charges or invoke fresh MPO orders has historically blunted such victories. The international attention generated by her Guardian letter may matter as much as the courtroom argument.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Mahrang Baloch approached Pakistan's Supreme Court?
Mahrang Baloch has petitioned Pakistan's Supreme Court after the Balochistan High Court rejected her bail application on 23 February in a case registered under the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act. Her advocate Jibran Nasir filed the petition on her behalf.
What are the charges against Mahrang Baloch?
An FIR lodged at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station in Quetta in January last year alleges she failed mandatory check-ins under the ATA's Fourth Schedule and continued participating in public processions. Authorities also allege she facilitated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a charge her supporters dispute.
What conditions has Mahrang Baloch described in jail?
In a letter to The Guardian, Mahrang described solitary confinement in a 20-square-metre cell with only a small cot and a corner commode. She reported suffering a slipped disc and radiculopathy since October 2025, requiring hospitalisation in February.
Who else from Mahrang Baloch's circle has been affected?
According to her Guardian letter, her cousin Salal Baloch was forcibly disappeared, her 19-year-old cousin Saifullah Baloch was picked up on 12 March and remains missing, and her brother faces Fourth Schedule restrictions. Her sister has also reportedly been harassed and charged after speaking at press conferences.
What is the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)?
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee is a human rights organisation founded by Mahrang Baloch to advocate against alleged human rights violations in Balochistan, Pakistan. It has organised large-scale protests and sit-ins, drawing significant attention to enforced disappearances and security operations in the region.
