Several human rights organizations have strongly criticized the recent arrest of Baloch activist Fozia Baloch, a member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), by Karachi police. Fozia’s arrest follows the enforced disappearance of her brother, Dadshah Baloch, allegedly taken by Pakistani security forces from his home on April 21. Despite efforts by the family to report the disappearance, the police reportedly denied registering a case.
The BYC reported that Fozia, along with her family, was detained and taken to an undisclosed location while attempting to hold a press conference at the Karachi press club. The BYC has called for the immediate release of Fozia and her brother, urging international humanitarian organizations to hold Pakistani authorities accountable for violating human rights laws. The Baloch National Movement’s Human Rights Department labeled the incident as part of a wider trend of silencing victims’ families and impeding access to justice.
Expressing alarm over Fozia’s arrest, the Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) highlighted the shrinking space for dissent and the increasing obstacles faced by families seeking answers. The BVJ noted that efforts to raise awareness about enforced disappearances are being obstructed, indicating a deliberate attempt to control the narrative and evade scrutiny. The Baloch Students Organization Azad (BSO-Azad) accused Pakistani authorities of normalizing the enforced disappearance of Baloch women, emphasizing that such actions aim to weaken the freedom movement in Balochistan through false narratives.
