Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, has expressed serious worries about the continuous harassment and criminalization faced by women’s rights activists and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Sabiha Baloch and her family in Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities have been targeting not only Sabiha Baloch but also other members of the BYC. Lawlor emphasized the need to halt these actions, which seem to be a response to the organization’s peaceful efforts in advocating for human rights.
The BYC recently denounced what it called unfounded, politically driven accusations against the group and its key figure, Sabiha Baloch. The organization stressed its commitment to non-violence and its consistent advocacy for human rights in Balochistan. Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and the Inspector General of Police in Balochistan held a press conference where they presented Farzana Zehri, who had been missing since December 2025, making statements linking her to the BYC and Sabiha Baloch, alleging connections to militant activities and suicide attack training.
Accusing the Pakistani establishment of using propaganda and orchestrated press events to suppress human rights defenders, the BYC raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding Farzana Zehri’s disappearance and subsequent coerced statements. The organization highlighted the lack of credibility in these statements and emphasized the absence of any evidence linking Sabiha Baloch or the BYC to the alleged activities. The BYC also questioned the legality of the detention of its leaders and the state’s efforts to discredit their peaceful movement.
In response to the prolonged detention of BYC leaders, including Mahrang Baloch, the organization labeled it as an unlawful act driven by the Pakistani system’s anxiety rather than a response to any criminal behavior. Various human rights groups have joined in demanding the immediate release of BYC leaders, urging for the dismissal of false charges and ensuring fair trials free from state influence.
