April 25, 2025
Staff Report
LAHORE
Baloch Yakjehti Committee organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other detained leaders and activists have gone on indefinite hunger strike in their prison cells, BYC leader Sammi Deen said in a post on X on Friday as protests were held across Balochistan to condemn their prolonged detention.
In her post, Deen said the extreme step has been taken ‘as a form of resistance against ongoing abuse and torture inside prison cells, where the BYC leaders and activists were being held for their peaceful political activism’. She named BYC leaders Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Shajee Baloch, Bebarg Baloch, and activists Gulzadi Baloch and Beebow Baloch who have gone on hunger strike while imprisoned in jails in Quetta and Pishin under the 3 MPO law in Balochistan. According to Deen, Shah Jee and Beebagr were already suffering from multiple health conditions and physical disabilities. “These individuals have not committed any crime but have been targeted for speaking out against grave human rights violations such as enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systemic violence against the Baloch people,” she said in her post. Despite their commitment to peaceful protest, the state has responded with force ranging from false charges and unlawful arrests to brutal police action and, now, torture behind bars, the BYC leader said. The physical well-being and lives of these political prisoners are at serious risk, she added.
Munir Baloch, the counsel for Mahrang Baloch, confirmed to Voicepk.net that the detained BYC leaders including Mahrang Baloch have gone on indefinite hunger strike in their prison cells. He said the legal team has filed a new constitutional petition before the Balochistan High Court for the release of the BYC leaders and activists. “The constitutional petition is fixed for Monday (April 28) while a previous petition is fixed for April 30 before the Balochistan High Court,” he added.
Meanwhile, protests were held in Naushki, Chaghi, Kalat and Dalbandin to condemn the prolonged detention of BYC leaders and activists. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee had called for nationwide protests on Friday (April 25) to condemn the forcible prison transfer of its detained activist Beebow Baloch to Pishin Jail and the extension of detention of its organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other BYC leaders.
The protesters held placards and chanted slogans to condemn the alleged torture on detained BYC leaders including prison transfer of Beebow Baloch to Pishin jail. The BYC also staged a demonstration at Faqeer Colony in Karachi but the protesters were rounded up and taken to the police station.
In a statement on its social media handle, the BYC said the health and lives of the BYC leaders and activists on hunger strike were in danger and it would make the government fully responsible for any harm inflicted upon them.