Islamabad: Several leading international human rights organizations have called on the Pakistani government to immediately halt what they describe as an ongoing crackdown on the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a prominent group advocating for Baloch human rights.
In a joint letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Amnesty International, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Front Line Defenders, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the World Organisation Against Torture strongly condemned the harassment and detention of Baloch activists for exercising their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression.
The letter asserts that actions taken against BYC leaders and members are not only a violation of Pakistan’s Constitution but also contravene the country’s international legal obligations.
The organizations criticized the authorities for misusing public order and anti-terrorism laws—including the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (3MPO), the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), and the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997—as tools to arbitrarily detain activists and suppress dissent.
They demanded the immediate release of all detained Baloch rights activists and their family members, along with the withdrawal of all charges filed against them. Furthermore, they called for authorities to disclose the whereabouts of those still in custody and ensure their access to family members, legal counsel, and medical care.
The crackdown has included the arrest of over 150 individuals in Quetta, including BYC leaders and supporters, as well as activists from the Balochistan National Party (BNP), under the 3MPO law.
While most detainees were later released following the withdrawal of detention orders by the Home Department, prominent BYC leaders including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Sabghatullah Shah Ji, and Bibarg Baloch—as well as senior National Party activist Ghafar Baloch—remain in custody.
The international human rights bodies emphasized the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and protection of fundamental freedoms in Pakistan, particularly in the context of the country's treatment of Baloch activists and peaceful protest movements.
