Naseem Baloch, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) chairman, has called on the global community to break its silence regarding the “illegal detention” of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, who have been held for a year. He emphasized that the prolonged imprisonment constitutes a severe violation of international human rights and due process. The BYC chief organizer, Mahrang Baloch, and other activists were charged with terrorism by Pakistani authorities in March 2025 after protesting against the unlawful arrest and police remand of victims’ relatives.
Marking one year since the “illegal detention” of its leadership, the BYC highlighted that the extended imprisonment of Mahrang and other leaders reflects the Pakistani system’s “panic” rather than punishment for any crime. The rights body accused the police crackdowns, judicial silence, and information control of being part of a systematic effort to silence peaceful voices. Various human rights organizations have joined in demanding the immediate release of BYC leaders and the dropping of all “false and politically motivated charges” to ensure fair trials without state pressure.
