Quetta, Jan 11 (NationPress) Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch has firmly dismissed the allegations made by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) against the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), asserting that these claims have been disseminated in the media devoid of evidence and judicial review.

Describing BYC as a "peaceful political movement rooted in human rights and dignity", Sammi Deen Baloch emphasized that the rights group documents instances of enforced disappearances and advocates for families deprived of arrests, charges, trials, and even the confirmation of their loved ones' fates.

In a statement on X, BYC declared, "The allegations put forth by the CTD against the BYC have been promoted in the media without substantiation and judicial review. BYC is a peaceful political movement grounded in human rights and dignity, currently enjoying the largest public support in Balochistan. Our operations are public, documented, and transparent. We organize protests and record instances of enforced disappearances."

"We advocate for families who have been denied arrests, charges, trials, and even verification of whether their loved ones are alive. That is our mission. The state is aware of this. The public is aware of this. The assertion that BYC is a platform for terrorist recruitment has been made without evidence, charges, or judicial oversight. This follows a long-established pattern: when accountability demands cannot be addressed, they are reframed as threats. When victims organize, they are recast as suspects. This is not counter-terrorism; it is suppression," the statement continued.

Sammi Deen Baloch's remarks follow comments from Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aitzaz Goraya, who claimed that terrorists are using BYC's platform to recruit youth.

Sammi Deen Baloch highlighted that BYC represents Baloch youth who have witnessed their fathers disappear, brothers killed, and their futures indefinitely suspended. She reiterated BYC's commitment to continue advocating for families that the state desires to silence.

"If anyone has committed a crime, the law is already in place. They should be arrested, charged, and evidence should be presented in court. Instead, the state has opted to make accusations through the media, tarnishing an entire movement and endangering its members and supporters. This choice is intentional. BYC signifies Baloch youth who have seen their fathers vanish, their brothers murdered, and their futures indefinitely delayed. If young people feel alienated or distrusting, it is not due to peaceful organizers," she stated.

"It is due to the state's normalization of enforced disappearances, collective punishment, and the obliteration of lawful political space in Balochistan. The terms 'rehabilitation' and 'internment' are not neutral. Baloch communities understand how often these terms have been employed to rationalize detention without charge, oversight, or consent. Renaming unlawful confinement does not render it lawful. When a state begins to categorize human rights advocacy as terrorism, it is no longer addressing a security issue; it exposes a governance failure. It acknowledges that it cannot tolerate scrutiny, dissent, or organized civilian resistance," she added.

Affirming BYC's determination to document denied cases, she stated, "BYC will persist in organizing publicly and peacefully. We will continue to document what the state chooses to deny. We will continue to advocate for families that the state would rather keep silent. The issue is no longer whether citizens are being criminalized; it is why demanding to know the whereabouts of the disappeared has itself been labeled a crime."

During a press conference with Balochistan Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat, Goraya mentioned that CTD police and law enforcement apprehended Sajid Ahmad, alias Shahwaiz, a resident of Turbat, during an operation in Panjgur, as reported by Pakistan's leading daily Dawn.

According to him, Sajid had earned a master's degree from Islamabad's International Islamic University and had worked contractually at Zubaida Jalal Government College for three years before teaching at the University of Turbat. He noted that Sajid had maintained ties with BYC's leadership.

"One notable aspect is the involvement of BYC. Every individual facilitating or connected to what they describe as a sharing or intelligence network is somehow associated with BYC," Goraya stated, as quoted by Dawn. He further mentioned, "In addition to Sajid, we have apprehended three others, against whom FIRs are being registered."