Several Baloch human rights activists have strongly criticized Pakistan’s Balochistan province Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti for his “inflammatory” comments against scholars and the broader intellectual community of the region. Bugti, in a widely shared press conference on social media, associated the intellectual community of Balochistan with the militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), accusing them of justifying violence and urging those with no allegiance to Pakistan to leave the country.
Expressing deep concern over Bugti’s statements, Sammi Deen Baloch from the human rights organization Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) stated that such remarks were inconsistent with democratic values and represented a trend of intimidation against critical voices in Balochistan. Sammi emphasized the importance of criticism, accountability, and questioning government actions in a functioning society, highlighting the right to free expression and academic freedom for all, including PhD scholars.
Sabiha Baloch, a central figure in the BYC, strongly criticized Bugti for creating a negative narrative against Baloch scholars and intellectuals while encouraging the province’s youth to pursue higher education abroad. She highlighted Bugti’s past statements in the Balochistan Assembly that led to a hostile environment for Baloch poets and intellectuals, emphasizing the need to protect the educated class in Balochistan from such negative portrayals.
Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Naseem Baloch, condemned Bugti’s remarks, alleging a historical pattern of targeting intellectuals and dissenting voices in Balochistan. Naseem compared Bugti’s actions to past atrocities in Bangladesh, where intellectuals were targeted during a genocide, warning against the repetition of such policies in Balochistan.
