Human rights organization Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has demanded justice, accountability, and resistance following the one-year enforced detention of its chief organizer, Mahrang Baloch, and other leaders. The BYC has initiated a global month-long awareness campaign from February 20 to March 20 to document abuses, resist repression, and seek accountability. Pakistani authorities’ repression in Balochistan has reportedly escalated since March 2025.
In March of the previous year, Pakistan accused Mahrang Baloch and several other BYC activists of terrorism after she led a sit-in protest against the unlawful arrest and police remand of the relatives of enforced disappearance victims. The BYC highlighted that the imprisonment of Mahrang Baloch and others signifies a broader pattern of political suppression, enforced disappearances, limitations on political and social activities, and the stifling of dissent.
The rights body has urged global participation in the month-long campaign, calling on Baloch citizens, diaspora members, human rights defenders, and concerned individuals worldwide to contribute actively. Suggestions include writing articles, opinion pieces, and blog posts to raise awareness about the situation in Balochistan and submitting reports to international human rights organizations. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to send letters to lawmakers, foreign ministries, the United Nations, international NGOs, and legal advocacy groups.
Emphasizing the collective responsibility to speak out against Pakistani authorities’ atrocities, the BYC stressed the importance of collective awareness in combating repression. The organization highlighted the significance of public engagement, stating that historical evidence shows that repression thrives in silence but weakens in the face of collective awareness.
Recently, the BYC expressed concerns about the independence of the legal process and delays in judicial proceedings in bail matters involving Mahrang Baloch and other leaders. Balochistan’s High Court reportedly heard the bail applications on December 17, 2025, with the defense completing its arguments while the prosecution failed to provide substantial evidence to justify continued detention. Despite the court reserving its judgment, no decision has been announced after almost three months, contrary to the usual prompt delivery of judgments in similar cases in Pakistan.
The BYC emphasized that such delays impact fundamental rights, personal liberty, and public trust in the judiciary. The organization stated that prolonged detention of peaceful political activists without evidence or timely judicial decisions reinforces the perception of legal institutions being used to suppress dissent.
