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Mahrang Baloch was arrested by Pakistani authorities on Saturday under charges of terrorism, sedition and murder. She has been recognised by Time Magazine as one of its 100 Next Emerging Leaders.
Mahrang Baloch arrested by Pakistani authorities (Reuters Image)
Pakistan has been sitting on a boiling pot for quite some time now, particularly with the growing resistance movement in Balochistan – the latest instance of which is the hijacking of a train by the BLA.
Balochistan Liberation Army’s surprise move brought to the surface the deep-seated tensions between the Baloch people and the Pakistani state for decades.
Mahrang Baloch Arrested By Pakistan
Aiming to crack down against the growing “separatist sentiments” in the region, the Pakistan Police arrested Mahrang Baloch on Saturday, who is a symbol of Baloch aspirations and a leading human rights advocate.
Pakistan is growing more worried about the Baloch movement, fearing that separatist ideas could spread and weaken its control over the region. This concern is especially strong because Balochistan is a large area and shares important borders with countries like Iran and Taliban-led Afghanistan, which Pakistan sees as unfriendly.
Pakistan cracking down heavily upon the Baloch people with the arrests of around 150 activists, including Mahrang Baloch, who is recognised by Time Magazine as one of its 100 Next Emerging Leaders, has drawn global condemnation. It also raised concerns about the suppression of Baloch voices in the country.
Pakistan arrested her under charges of terrorism, sedition, and murder as a protest in Balochistan’s capital, Quetta, led to the deaths of three protesters.
Who Is Mahrang Baloch?
She is a medical doctor and the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, who has raised her voice against extrajudicial killings in Balochistan and enforced disappearances.
She is a key figure in Baloch protests against enforced disappearances as her father, Abdul Gaffar Langove, a nationalist leader, was disappeared in 2009. His body was found after three years in the Lasbela district, BBC reported.
She has since then been fighting against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. She continues to fight for her cause despite death threats, and detention among other bans.
Her sister, Iqra Baloch, criticised her arrest, saying that visiting Hudda Jail reminded her of seeing their father in prison 18 years ago. “Back then, Mahrang was with us. Today, she is not,” she wrote on social media.
The family has alleged that the local authorities have denied them permission to even meet her and deliver home-cooked food.
In December 2023, Mahrang was involved in organising a massive march to Islamabad demanding action against disappearances. However, the police cracked down on the march.
