A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in Mastung against Dr. Mahrang Baloch, central organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and other members of the organization. According to the BYC, the charges relate to a recent rally and visit to the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Mastung.
BYC Condemns ‘Baseless’ Charges
In a statement titled “Apartheid Laws and Policing in Balochistan: Targeting the Baloch Nation’s Peaceful Movement,”the BYC described the FIR as part of a “routine tactic” by Pakistan’s security forces to undermine peaceful activism.
The group alleged that the state systematically misuses the law to target the Baloch people based on their identity and resistance to ongoing repression.
The Mastung rally, the BYC said, aimed to raise awareness for an upcoming event commemorating “Baloch Genocide Day” on 25 January in Dalbandin. The organization claimed the event adhered to legal norms, but authorities invoked Section 144, a colonial-era law originally introduced by British rulers.
The BYC highlighted that hundreds of FIRs have been filed against its leaders and members since llast year—mostly by police, intelligence agencies, and security forces.
While many of these cases have been dismissed by courts as baseless, new charges continue to emerge.
The group strongly condemned what it called “apartheid-like” and “colonial” tactics aimed at silencing political workers across Balochistan.
It called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene, insisting that such measures would not weaken the resolve of the Baloch nation or its leadership.
UN Concern Over Dr. Mahrang’s Safety
The latest FIR comes amid recent concerns raised by a United Nations special working group, which warned that Dr. Mahrang’s life and liberty are under “serious threat.”
In a formal communication to the Government of Pakistan, UN experts detailed allegations of harassment, arbitrary travel restrictions, and fabricated charges against Dr. Mahrang for her human rights activism.
The UN letter cited multiple FIRs against Dr. Mahrang, including charges of terrorism and sedition, as part of a broader campaign to deter her advocacy.
The letter also referenced an incident in which she was stopped at Karachi Airport while attempting to travel to New York for a TIME event honoring her work. Her passport was reportedly confiscated during the episode.
Additionally, the communication highlighted that in July 2024, Dr. Mahrang was charged with murder following a “Baloch National Gathering” in Gwadar, where security forces alleged that protesters under her leadership killed a soldier. Media reports, however, indicated that the army opened fire on a peaceful protest, resulting in multiple casualties.
The UN Working Group called the allegations against Dr. Mahrang part of a broader pattern of harassment against Baloch activists, particularly women. “The life, liberty, and personal safety of Ms. Mahrang Baloch remain at a heightened risk,” the letter warned, urging the Pakistani government to ensure her safety and address these concerns.