Pakistan Accuses Baloch Activists of 'Terrorism'; Legal Counsel Denied

Synopsis

On March 24, Pakistan charged Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, with terrorism after she led a protest against illegal detentions. Mahrang remains in jail with no legal representation, while protests and strikes continue in Balochistan amid accusations of police brutality.

Key Takeaways

Mahrang Baloch and other activists face terrorism charges.
Protests against unlawful detentions are ongoing in Balochistan.
Internet services have been suspended in Quetta and surrounding areas.
Human rights organizations demand Mahrang's release.
Excessive police force has been reported during protests.

Quetta, March 24 (NationPress) Pakistan has leveled charges of terrorism against Mahrang Baloch, the leader of Pakistan's Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), along with several other activists, following her leadership in a sit-in protest. This protest was aimed at opposing the unlawful arrest and police remand of relatives of victims of enforced disappearances.

Mahrang is currently imprisoned in Quetta District Jail alongside 150 others after a severe crackdown on Baloch leaders during their protest.

The activists face various charges including terrorism, murder, attempted murder, incitement to violence and rebellion, creating disorder, promoting racial hatred, and property damage, according to local media reports.

In the meantime, shutter-down strikes have continued for a second day across multiple cities in Balochistan, with internet services in Quetta and nearby regions remaining suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday.

Speaking to Pakistan's prominent daily Dawn on Sunday, Asma Baloch, Mahrang's sister, expressed concern that over 24 hours had passed without Mahrang being presented in court or granted access to legal representation.

Asma stated, "The authorities at Quetta District Jail have prevented us from meeting my sister, and we were not permitted to deliver food and necessary items to her."

The human rights organization Amnesty International called for Mahrang's release in a post on X, asserting that she has been unlawfully detained for more than 38 hours.

"Over 38 hours since Mahrang Baloch's unlawful detention, she is still denied access to her lawyers and family. There are alarming reports of ongoing arbitrary arrests and detentions across Balochistan. Pakistani authorities must promptly release Mahrang Baloch and all others detained for exercising their right to peaceful protest and stop implicating Baloch activists in baseless cases to unlawfully extend their detention," the organization stated.

The BYC has also accused Pakistan's police of employing excessive force against demonstrators in the provincial capital, alleging that they opened fire on peaceful protesters, resulting in three fatalities and dozens of injuries, with seven in critical condition.

The Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the National Party (NP) denounced what they termed excessive force against peaceful demonstrators and urged the Pakistani government to engage in dialogue to address the crisis.

Previously, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vehemently condemned the brutal use of force against the peaceful protesters of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Quetta.

"The oppressive regime has once again crossed every limit of brutality in its desperate attempt to cling to power, even at the expense of national unity and integrity," said PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram.

"We demand immediate accountability for those responsible for the killings and injuries of peaceful demonstrators, along with the swift release of all detainees, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch," he added.