Mahrang Baloch alleges Pakistan offered activists Europe settlement to end struggle
Synopsis
Mahrang Baloch has alleged that Pakistani authorities offered detained BYC activists a choice between acting as informants or resettling in Europe — offers she says were unanimously rejected. The disclosure, made days after BYC leader Gulzadi Baloch received a life sentence on 21 September, lays bare what the organisation calls a systematic effort to silence Balochistan’s peaceful political movement through both coercion and inducement.
Key Takeaways
Mahrang Baloch , chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) , alleged on 24 September 2026 that Pakistani authorities offered detained activists resettlement in Europe to abandon their struggle.
A second alleged offer involved releasing one activist to act on authorities’ instructions before freeing the rest — an arrangement Mahrang said the group rejected outright.
BYC leader Gulzadi Baloch was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Pakistani court on 21 September ; Mahrang condemned the verdict as a ‘mockery of justice.’ Mahrang alleged serious trial irregularities: witnesses cross-examined without defence counsel, orders passed in the absence of the accused and their lawyers.
Pakistani authorities reportedly told activists during negotiations that ‘all judges are in our hands,’ raising concerns about judicial independence.
The BYC has vowed to continue its peaceful political campaign, with Mahrang saying the sentences have strengthened rather than weakened the organisation’s resolve.
Mahrang Baloch, leading human rights activist and chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has alleged that Pakistani authorities offered detained Baloch activists the option of settling in Europe as an inducement to abandon their peaceful political struggle. The allegations, made in a statement posted on X on 24 September 2026, also condemned the life imprisonment handed down to BYC leader Gulzadi Baloch by a Pakistani court on 21 September.
The Alleged Offer
According to Mahrang, the authorities proposed a phased deal: one activist would be released first, required to act on the authorities' instructions, after which the remaining detainees would follow. A separate offer reportedly included a two-to-three year resettlement arrangement in Europe.
“We were even offered that if we complied with their demands, one person among us would be released; that person would go out and act on their instructions, and then the rest would also be released. We were also offered to settle in Europe for two or three years. We rejected all such offers, including these, because our struggle is not for any temporary concession, privileges, or personal gain,” she stated.
Gulzadi Baloch’s Life Sentence and Trial Concerns
Mahrang sharply criticised the 21 September verdict sentencing Gulzadi Baloch to life imprisonment, calling it “ongoing mockery of justice in Balochistan and the continued process of suppressing peaceful political voices.” She raised serious procedural concerns about the trial, alleging that witnesses were cross-examined in the absence of defence counsel, the defence was not given a full opportunity to present its case, and orders were passed without the accused or their lawyers present.
“Gulzadi Baloch is not an unknown face; she is our comrade and a part of our struggle. A life sentence may be imposed to silence her, but our voice against the injustice done to her cannot be imprisoned. Gulzadi’s sentence is proof of the immense pressure and coercion faced by peaceful political struggle in Balochistan today,” Mahrang stated.
Pressure Tactics and Judicial Independence
Mahrang also alleged that Pakistani authorities told activists during negotiations that “all judges are in our hands and that any request given by you holds no weight.” Despite this, she said the activists chose “the path of logic and political courage.” The BYC, she underlined, has never refused dialogue aimed at securing the basic rights of the people of Balochistan.
This comes amid a broader pattern of reported clampdowns on Baloch civil society, with rights groups documenting enforced disappearances and restricted access to legal representation in the region.
BYC’s Defiant Response
Far from dampening resolve, Mahrang argued that the sentences have strengthened the organisation. “We consider the sentences handed down to us by your kangaroo courts as an honour for ourselves and our organisation, because despite all the resources, cases, imprisonment, and propaganda, you have failed to break the resolve of our comrades’ struggle,” she said.
She stressed that national ideology, political principles, and loyalty to the people of Balochistan take precedence over any personal gain, signalling that the BYC intends to continue its campaign.
What Comes Next
With Gulzadi Baloch’s appeal prospects uncertain under Pakistan’s current judicial climate, human rights observers are likely to scrutinise both the fairness of the verdict and the broader conditions of detention for BYC members. International advocacy groups and diaspora organisations are expected to amplify pressure on Pakistani authorities in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
If substantiated, describes a classic counter-insurgency playbook applied to a civilian political movement: combine judicial pressure with off-ramps that neutralise leadership without creating martyrs. The offer of European resettlement is particularly telling — it signals that Pakistani authorities regard the BYC’s street credibility, not just its legality, as the target. The life sentence for Gulzadi Baloch, delivered amid alleged procedural violations, compounds the concern: Balochistan’s courts have long faced criticism over independence, and this verdict will deepen that scepticism. What mainstream coverage often misses is that the BYC’s refusal of these offers — and its decision to go public with them — is itself a strategic move, aimed at internationalising a conflict Pakistan has worked hard to keep domestic.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Pakistani authorities allegedly offer Baloch activists?
According to Mahrang Baloch, authorities offered a phased deal in which one detained activist would be released to act on the authorities’ instructions, with the rest to follow. A separate offer included a two-to-three year resettlement arrangement in Europe. Mahrang stated that all such offers were rejected.
Who is Mahrang Baloch and what is the BYC?
Mahrang Baloch is a prominent human rights activist and the chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a Balochistan-based civil society organisation that campaigns for the basic rights of the Baloch people through peaceful political means.
Why was Gulzadi Baloch sentenced to life imprisonment?
Gulzadi Baloch, a BYC leader, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Pakistani court on 21 September 2026. Mahrang Baloch has alleged that the trial was procedurally flawed — with witnesses cross-examined in the absence of defence counsel and orders passed without the accused or their lawyers present — and has described the verdict as a ‘mockery of justice.’
What concerns have been raised about the fairness of the trial?
Mahrang alleged that witnesses were cross-examined without defence counsel present, the defence was not given a full opportunity to present its case, and court orders were passed in the absence of both the accused and their lawyers. She also cited alleged statements by authorities that judges were under their control.
What is the BYC’s position following these developments?
The BYC has rejected all offers made by Pakistani authorities and vowed to continue its peaceful political campaign. Mahrang Baloch stated that the life sentences have strengthened rather than weakened the organisation’s resolve, and that national ideology and loyalty to the people of Balochistan take precedence over personal concessions.
