Human rights activist Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has taken her case to Pakistan’s Supreme Court after being denied post-arrest bail under the 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act. The petition was filed by Advocate Jibran Nasir on her behalf following the rejection of her bail application by the Balochistan High Court in connection with a case filed at the Counter-Terrorism Department police station in Quetta. The case, dating back to January last year, accuses Mahrang Baloch of non-compliance with required appearances and alleged involvement with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Mahrang Baloch, currently held at District Jail Quetta, was initially arrested in March last year under the Balochistan Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for 30 days, with two subsequent 30-day extensions. Despite her ongoing detention, she was arrested again in August last year in connection with another FIR. The BYC leader had challenged her detention under the Maintenance of Public Order and the Balochistan High Court’s decision earlier. In a recent letter to ‘The Guardian’, Mahrang Baloch detailed the harsh conditions faced by her and fellow activists during their imprisonment over the past year.
Mahrang Baloch described her solitary confinement in Central Jail Huda, Quetta, as severe, with limited amenities and strict isolation from other inmates due to their political status. She also highlighted her declining health, citing severe back and joint pain since October 2025, leading to a recent diagnosis of a slipped disc and radiculopathy. Expressing concern over her family’s harassment and enforced disappearances, Mahrang Baloch emphasized the relentless targeting of her relatives by Pakistani authorities.
The activist further noted instances of physical abuse towards her companions, including one being beaten during transfer and another developing a medical condition due to poor cell conditions. Mahrang Baloch accused Pakistani authorities of employing tactics to undermine their activism and silence their voices, pointing to the ongoing challenges faced by her family members in their support efforts.
