Multiple human rights organisations have strongly condemned the arrest of Syed Bibi, a woman activist and member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on 1 July 2026 from her residence in Kech district, Balochistan. Rights groups have described the detention as part of an escalating crackdown on peaceful dissent, with some characterising it as 'Pakistani fascism.'

The Arrest and Its Circumstances

According to the BYC, Bibi was taken into custody without any legal justification despite having voluntarily complied with authorities' directives for the past four months, reporting to the CTD office every week. Her name had been placed on the Fourth Schedule of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act — a counterterrorism watch list — though no publicly known conviction for a terrorism-related offence exists against her.

The BYC further alleged that ahead of its announcement of a protest in the Turbat region of Kech, CTD officials repeatedly contacted and harassed Bibi before her arrest, suggesting the detention was intended to suppress legitimate political activity.

Pattern of Harassment, Say Rights Bodies

The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) stated that Bibi's arrest is part of a 'sustained pattern of harassment and intimidation' targeting her over the past several years. It noted that in March 2026, individuals in civilian clothing, reportedly affiliated with intelligence agencies, raided her home without presenting a warrant, ransacking the premises before leaving.

The HRCB added that these incidents are 'not isolated' but reflect a 'broader and systematic pattern of reprisals' against individuals perceived to be associated with or supportive of the BYC.

The BYC itself described the Fourth Schedule as a tool being weaponised against 'political activists, students, teachers, ordinary citizens, and even underage children' in Balochistan, arguing that the law is routinely used to summon and harass those listed whenever protests are announced in any city.

Condemnation from Rights Organisations

The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) condemned the arrest, stating that 'holding an individual in custody to prevent or undermine peaceful political activity constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty and represents a serious violation of fundamental rights, including the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.'

The BWF has called on international human rights organisations, United Nations human rights mechanisms, and the wider international community to urgently demand Bibi's immediate release. It also urged the global community to monitor the alleged misuse of counterterrorism laws against peaceful activists and press Pakistani authorities to honour their obligations under domestic and international human rights standards.

International Intervention Demanded

Naseem Baloch, chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), alleged that Bibi's arrest is another instance in an escalating pattern of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. In a post on X, he wrote: 'Another brave Baloch woman, Syed Bibi, has been forcibly abducted and disappeared by Pakistani forces, adding yet another name to the ever-growing list of victims of enforced disappearance in Balochistan. Silence in the face of these disappearances only emboldens the perpetrators. The international community, the United Nations, and human rights organisations must urgently take notice and press Pakistan to end the practice of enforced disappearances.'

The Pakistani government has not issued a public response to these allegations. With international pressure mounting, the fate of Bibi and the broader question of counterterrorism law misuse in Balochistan are likely to draw further scrutiny in the days ahead.