In an attempt to suppress the voice of the tormented Baloch people, the Quetta police recently arrested Mahrang Baloch, a prominent face of the Balochistan movement, on the orders of the Pakistani army, igniting further unrest in the region.
Mahrang Baloch, the leader of the Baloch Youth Committee (BYC), has been at the forefront of protests against the ongoing oppression by the Pakistani government in Balochistan.
According to local media, Mahrang was arrested while participating in a protest against the atrocities being committed against the Baloch people.
The arrest of Mahrang Baloch has become a widely discussed issue, raising the question of whether she will return, as the Pakistani army has previously made thousands of Baloch people disappear after similar arrests, including her father in 2009.
Who is Mahrang Baloch?
Mahrang Baloch, born into a Muslim family in Balochistan, is a doctor and has five sisters and one brother. Her father, Abdul Ghaffar Baloch, was a poor laborer who was brutally murdered by the Pakistani army.
According to to archives in 2009, her father was arrested by the Pakistani army in Karachi while seeking medical treatment. Later, he was killed, and his body was found in 2011 with severe signs of torture.
In 2017, Mahrang’s brother was abducted by the Pakistani army and went missing for three months. He was later released in a near-death condition.
In recent years, Mahrang Baloch has become one of the leading figures of the Baloch movement.
Why is Mahrang Baloch’s Arrest Crucial?
The arrest of Mahrang Baloch has become a pressing issue in the conflict-torn region of Balochistan, as concerns grow over whether she will return alive. Her father was similarly arrested and later killed by Pakistani forces.
Likewise, the Pakistani army has executed hundreds of young people following their arrests in Balochistan.
Mahrang Baloch’s arrest also highlights the Pakistan army’s suppression of freedom of expression.
It sends a clear message that any form of peaceful protest against the army’s brutalities will be silenced. Her arrest is part of a broader crackdown on Baloch activists.
What Made Mahrang Baloch Famous?
In December 2023, Mahrang Baloch gained national and international attention when she protested against the killings and enforced disappearances of Baloch people. During that time, she organized a long march that saw massive participation.
Mahrang marched from Turbat in Balochistan to Islamabad, covering a distance of 1,600 kilometers, with thousands of Baloch women and people joining her.
Pakistani Army Atrocities in Balochistan
Balochistan, the largest yet poorest province of Pakistan, has been a site of insurgency and heavy military presence for decades.
Locals claim that Islamabad continuously suppresses political voices while exploiting the region’s natural resources. According to Voice of Baloch, around 1,500 missing individuals have been found dead since 2009, often brutally tortured, while 6,000 remain missing.
Several human rights groups report that extrajudicial killings are rising, but the military denies any involvement.
Faith in political solutions has also eroded due to allegations of military interference in the 2018 and 2024 elections, which sidelined popular Baloch nationalist leaders.
Pakistan’s Government Stance on Mahrang’s Arrest
Despite the growing chaos, Pakistan’s government has yet to respond to calls for transparency regarding the charges against Mahrang Baloch.
The arrest of Mahrang Baloch has intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s policies in Balochistan, prompting rights groups to demand an independent investigation into the recent protests and the treatment of activists in the region.
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