Is Pakistan Misusing Terrorism Charges Against Baloch Leaders?

Quetta, July 8 (NationPress) A group of human rights advocates on Tuesday criticized the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) head Mahrang Baloch along with other leaders after a recent 10-day remand was issued by Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). This remand was based on what the BYC labeled as "fabricated police complaints".

The BYC reported that Mahrang Baloch, Shah Jee, Beebagr Baloch, Ghafar Baloch, Gulzadi, and Beebow Baloch were unexpectedly informed on Tuesday by the Jail Superintendent that their preventive detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) had been lifted. They were told that police would soon arrive to arrest and present them before the ATC.

"This action occurred just hours before the scheduled 3MPO review board meeting, which was officially set between 12 noon to 1 PM that same day. Nevertheless, BYC leaders were taken to the ATC and presented in court between 10 to 11 AM," the BYC stated.

"During the hearing, the ATC judge specifically inquired about the MPO detentions. Officials from the Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) falsely asserted that the 3MPOs had already been lifted. Based on these misleading claims, the ATC ordered a 10-day police remand for all six BYC leaders under newly filed and baseless FIRs," it added.

The BYC contended that the deliberate evasion of due process — falsely asserting that the MPOs were lifted prior to the board's meeting — is a calculated effort to deny lawful release and intensify the persecution of BYC leadership.

"From arbitrary detentions exceeding three months under 3MPO to unlawful post-3MPO custody, and now the introduction of false terrorism charges with a 10-day remand, the state has initiated a coordinated legal and administrative assault against the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. This is not a case of isolated misconduct — it is a systematic campaign to criminalize peaceful political resistance through legal manipulation, deception, and oppression," the rights organization emphasized.

The BYC vehemently condemned this ongoing misuse of the legal system to stifle their movement. They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained BYC leaders and urged national and international human rights organizations to take swift notice of this abuse of law and due process.

Shalee Baloch, organizer of the Baloch Women Forum, expressed alarm regarding the unlawful detention of the BYC leaders, reiterating that Mahrang Baloch and her colleagues should be freed without any further delay.

"The sudden lifting of 3MPO and direct ATC trial, especially on the same day the judicial commission was scheduled to investigate the three-month detention of the BYC leaders including Mahrang Baloch, raises our concerns regarding the integrity of legal procedures. I believe that such tactics are employed to harass peaceful political activists," Shalee Baloch stated in a post on X.

"It has been over three months since the BYC leadership has been subjected to unlawful detentions based solely on actions they have not committed. Instead of releasing them earlier, the state and its law enforcement agencies are resorting to other means to further exploit the state laws. If they intended to go for an ATC trial, they could have done so earlier, not now, when they were supposed to present a review of the three-month detention," the post added.

Baloch human rights activist and writer Mir Yar Baloch also took to social media, demanding the unconditional and immediate release of all Baloch detainees.

"The enemy can imprison our people, including Mahrang Baloch, but cannot extinguish our ideology, determination, and resistance for the defense of Balochistan. The occupational forces of Pakistan are holding 40,000 Baloch hostages in secret detention facilities across Balochistan and other regions of Pakistan," declared the Baloch human rights activist.