QUETTA, Pakistan, March 22 – Pakistani authorities arrested prominent Baloch human rights leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch and several associates early Saturday morning during a sit-in protest in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, drawing sharp condemnation from the United Nations, according to the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). The group said police also seized the bodies of three slain Baloch youth that had been part of the demonstration.
The arrests followed a violent crackdown on a peaceful protest in Quetta’s Sariab area, which began Friday night to demand the release of BYC central leader Bebigar Baloch, Dr. Hamal Dr. Ilyas, Saeed Baloch, and other detained activists, including women. The BYC accused police and state agencies of using tear gas, water cannons, and live ammunition, resulting in the deaths of three young protesters and injuries to dozens more.
“At 5:30 a.m. today, police and other agencies attacked the sit-in, snatched the bodies from the protesters, and arrested Dr. Mahrang Baloch along with her associates,” the BYC said in a statement posted on X. The group condemned the actions as “state terrorism” and reported a broader crackdown targeting women and children.
Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, strongly criticized the arrests and the violent response to the protests. In a statement posted on X, Lawlor said she was “very concerned by reports that Mahrang Baloch and a number of other HRDs [human rights defenders] have been arrested in Balochistan following a crackdown on Baloch Yakjehti Committee protesters in Quetta.” She highlighted the ongoing repression in the region, amplifying international attention on the incident.
The protest stemmed from outrage over what the BYC described as the “abduction-like arrest” of its leaders. On Friday night, demonstrators gathered in Sariab with the bodies of the slain youth, vowing to continue their sit-in. In a video message recorded at midnight, Mahrang Baloch called for a region-wide shutter-down strike across Balochistan on Saturday to protest the government’s actions.
“The Baloch Solidarity Committee announces a shutdown of the entire Balochistan against this oppression and terrorism of the state of Pakistan,” she said. “Tomorrow there will be a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike in the entire Balochistan.”
The Chenab Times could not independently verify the BYC’s claims, and Pakistani authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the arrests or the reported deaths.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long been a flashpoint for conflict between Baloch nationalist groups and the central government. Activists like Mahrang Baloch have campaigned against alleged human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, while demanding greater autonomy and control over the region’s vast natural resources. The Pakistani government, which accuses some Baloch groups of insurgency, has frequently responded with military operations.
Mahrang Baloch, a key figure in the Baloch rights movement, has gained prominence for her outspoken criticism of state policies. Her arrest is likely to escalate tensions in a region already marked by decades of unrest.
The BYC urged international attention to the plight of the Baloch people, framing Saturday’s events as part of a broader pattern of repression. As of Saturday morning, Quetta remained tense, with reports of heightened security presence in the city.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
