How is Pakistan's tyranny being exposed by Baloch activist?

Quetta, Sep 16 (NationPress) Mahrang Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has voiced her disapproval of the Balochistan Assembly for its recent amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997, describing it as a "hazardous move" that endorses state oppression and stifles dissenting voices.

Mahrang Baloch emphasized that this amendment, in conjunction with the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed in June, is poised to target peaceful activists, political operatives, and dissenters rather than actual violent offenders.

In her statement on X, she remarked, "I am shocked and furious by the Balochistan Assembly’s decision to pass yet another set of amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 this week. Through this so-called amendment, the illegitimate and unpopular government of Balochistan claims to protect judges, witnesses, lawyers, and prosecutors. They assert it will provide a flexible and secure legal framework for responding to evolving security challenges. In truth, this is nothing more than a perilous step. It endorses oppression and silences dissent".

She added, "Our most significant fear is materializing. This amendment, alongside June's Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025, will not target violent perpetrators but will be wielded against peaceful activists, political workers, and dissenters. This law strips away the fundamental right to a fair trial guaranteed under Article 10A of Pakistan’s constitution, paving the way for secret, faceless courts where justice becomes a farce".

This statement follows the introduction of the Anti-Terrorism Balochistan (Amendment) Act 2026, presented by Parliamentary Secretary Mir Zareen Khan Magsi on behalf of the provincial home department, as reported by The Balochistan Post.

Officials claim the amendments are designed to strengthen the counter-terrorism framework in accordance with international standards by offering a more secure legal framework for judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and witnesses. The proposed bill includes provisions for hidden identities, coded references, virtual hearings, and trials outside traditional courtrooms when security is at risk, according to the report. The government argues these measures are essential to safeguard individuals involved in sensitive cases related to terrorism.

Mahrang Baloch revealed that since March, there have been over 50 targeted crackdowns against members of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC), with hundreds of activists facing arrests, abductions, or enforced disappearances. She stated that there have been 814 enforced disappearances reported between January and June.

"The security scenario in Balochistan has seen a significant escalation in the crackdown against peaceful rights activists. Since March, we have witnessed over 50 targeted operations against members of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC). Hundreds of activists have been detained, abducted, or forcibly disappeared. In March alone, 147 individuals went missing, followed by 166 in April. Between January and June, the total number of enforced disappearances reached 814, nearly matching the total for the entire previous year. Students, workers, activists, and ordinary citizens are systematically targeted by the state and its agencies. At least 131 individuals have been killed without trial during the first six months of this year, through custodial torture, staged encounters, and indiscriminate military operations," she posted on X.

"In just one week of September, six individuals from the Kech district were killed in targeted assaults by death squad members. This is not a security policy; it is a slow-motion genocide. Each day, an average of four to five Baloch individuals are abducted, with one to three executed or killed by security forces and their affiliates. Concurrently, state-supported private militias, known locally as death squads, have been reactivated. These groups collaborate with security agencies to instill terror among the civilian populace. The state is conducting a violent campaign against the Baloch, employing both legal strategies—like draconian laws—and illegal tactics, such as death squads. Both approaches aim for the same goal: the ethnic cleansing and subjugation of the Baloch people," she continued.

Mahrang Baloch urged her fellow Baloch citizens to stay "resilient, dedicated, and brave" amid tyranny. "I implore my nation to remain steadfast, dedicated, and courageous in the face of this oppression. Do not let fear take hold. Our fight is for justice. Our cause is just. Despite the state's brutality, we will persist in our peaceful resistance against oppression. History will judge those who utilize private militias to terrorize innocent people and those who weaponize law as an instrument of tyranny. It will vindicate those who stand for justice and dignity," she concluded on X.