Leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a Balochistan-based human rights organisation, continued their sit-in protest inside Huda Jail in Quetta on Thursday, 18 June, marking the sixth consecutive day of demonstrations against what the group describes as 'unfair judicial proceedings and faceless trials.' The protest was triggered by the BYC's rejection of proceedings before a so-called faceless court, which the organisation has characterised as 'unconstitutional and illegal.'

How the Protest Unfolded

According to a statement shared by the BYC on social media platform X, the sit-in began five days prior when the organisation's leaders formally rejected a faceless court's decision and chose to protest from within the jail itself. Alongside the jail-based demonstration, the BYC declared a three-day online protest, which has drawn participation from individuals across various walks of life, including students, lawyers, and civil society members.

'Today, into its sixth day, the sit-in by BYC leaders inside Huda Jail against faceless trials continues,' the organisation stated, adding that the online campaign has amplified concerns about what it calls 'unconstitutional practices.'

BYC's Allegations Against Pakistan's Judicial System

The BYC has levelled serious allegations against Pakistan's judicial system, claiming it 'operates entirely through directives from the military establishment' and applies different legal standards to the elite class and ordinary citizens. The group contends that the Baloch people bear the heaviest burden under this system.

'In Pakistan, the judicial system is constantly being questioned, with claims that it has badly failed to meet legal requirements. Even at the international level, expressions of dissatisfaction are being voiced,' the BYC stated. It further alleged that daily occurrences in Balochistan include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, violations of privacy, and unjust arrests.

Detained Leaders and Enforced Disappearances

The BYC specifically cited the arrest of its prominent leader Mahrang Baloch as an example of what it calls 'unjust arrests,' noting that she and other leaders have faced 'baseless cases' and have remained in detention for the past fourteen months. The organisation also alleged that five Baloch women have been forcibly disappeared, with no information available about their whereabouts or condition.

'The issue of forcibly disappeared persons in Balochistan has taken a serious turn, which is a clear violation of international and national constitutions and laws,' the BYC stated, adding that the 'illegal and unconstitutional abduction of Baloch youth, followed by dumping their bodies, has become a daily routine.'

Call to Action and Broader Context

The BYC has called upon the people of Balochistan, political activists, students, lawyers, intellectuals, and human rights defenders to continue raising their voices against faceless trials. The organisation warned that if the law itself becomes a tool of suppression, 'this system will become intolerable for any human being.'

The protest comes amid longstanding international scrutiny of human rights conditions in Balochistan, where enforced disappearances and allegations of extrajudicial action have drawn repeated criticism from rights groups. How Pakistani authorities respond to the escalating jail-based demonstration is expected to shape the BYC's next steps.