April 22, 2025
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
The Home Department of Balochistan has extended the detention of chief organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Dr. Mahrang Baloch, under section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) by yet another month. The Baloch rights activist was arrested on March 22 over allegations of her involvement in incitement and attacking the Civil Hospital Quetta.
According to her lawyer, Imran Baloch, no formal notification regarding the one-month extension of her detention had been issued, and that he only came to know of it when he went to visit the district jail where his client is being kept and was informed by the prison authorities.
“The government is detaining her unlawfully, and is also denying her the right to a free and fair trial,” he said. “Members of parliamentary parties are dealt with differently under 3-MPO, whereas the treatment of BYC members is not the same.”
Imran Baloch also reiterated that no notification as to Dr. Mahrang’s detention was ever issued at the time of her arrest, and that said notification has yet to be issued even one month on. He further stated that they would challenge this extension in the relevant court.
Meanwhile Akhtar Mengal, chair of the Balochistan National Party – Mengal (BNP-M), called the government “obstinate” for extending the BYC leader’s extension, and elaborated that the move is yet another attempt to harass her into backing down from her stance.
“Laws like 3-MPO are being used to spread fear and intimidation,” he opined, adding that his party held a sit-in for 20 days for Mahrang’s release, and that the protest movement is still ongoing.
Senior BNP-M leader and former senator Sanaullah Baloch told Voicepk that there is no legal justification for extending Dr. Mahrang’s detention, and termed it a severe violation of fundamental human rights.
“Nearly 70 BNP-M members were arrested under 3-MPO but have since been released by the court. However, continued detention of BYC members and Mahrang Baloch is a human rights violation,” he held, noting that the situation in Balochistan is already tense, and imprisoning women will further escalate unrest and concern in the region.
Human rights organizations have also expressed concern over Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s arrest and the extension of her detention.
It is worth noting that on April 15, the Balochistan High Court rejected a petition filed against the Baloch activist’s arrest under 3-MPO, instructing the complainants to present their grievances to the Ministry of Interior.
It should also be mentioned that following the arrest of Dr. Mahrang and other female leaders of the BYC, the BNP-M announced a long march from Wadh to Quetta on March 28. Due to the government’s refusal to grant permission, the BNP-M instead held a sit-in protest at Lak Pass near Quetta, which lasted for 20 days. After Akhtar Mengal announced the end of the sit-in, he launched a public outreach movement, under which the BNP-M plans to hold rallies and protests against the government.