Amnesty International has made a strong call for action, urging Pakistan to release several Baloch activists who have been arbitrarily detained. The organization’s appeal highlights the detention of individuals such as Mahrang Baloch, Bebarg Zehri, and others, emphasizing that their arrests are part of a larger governmental crackdown on peaceful protests and free expression in Balochistan. Amnesty has accused the authorities of using anti-terrorism and public order laws to suppress dissent, employing legislation like the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 to justify these detentions.
The activists have been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, a regulation allowing brief detentions without trial. However, they remain in custody well beyond the 90-day limit permitted by the ordinance, which expired on June 22. Such actions starkly contrast with Pakistan’s constitutional promises, which include the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of speech, and fair trials. These rights are highlighted in Articles 16, 19, and 10 of the Pakistani Constitution and resonate with international commitments Pakistan has made, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. More details on these detentions can be found on JURIST.
Mahrang Baloch, along with his sister Beebow Baloch, had been participating in a peaceful sit-in against enforced disappearances in Quetta when they were detained. Both are affiliated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a movement advocating for accountability in the face of increasing disappearances in Balochistan. The recent alleged extrajudicial killing of activist Kareem Jan in custody further underscores the severity of the situation. The BYC reports visible signs of torture on Jan’s body, demanding international intervention for what it describes as ongoing repression in the region.
The Defense of Human Rights organization states that there were 2,332 cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan in 2024 alone. This alleged climate of repression is occurring amidst a series of drone strikes conducted by Pakistan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reportedly resulting in civilian casualties, including children.
Amnesty International’s pleas extend to the international community, urging it to hold Pakistan accountable for not only unlawfully detaining activists but also for stifling fundamental human rights. The organization’s stance is clear: the charges against these activists must be dropped, and the broader crackdown should cease to allow room for freedom of expression and rightful assembly without fear of retaliation.