April 4, 2025
By Shokat Korai
KARACHI
Since her release from prison on April 1, Sammi Baloch has stayed out of the public eye — not by choice, but out of necessity. Serious security threats and lingering health issues, says her family, have left her with no option but seclusion.
On March 25, Sammi Baloch was arrested in Karachi during a peaceful protest advocating for the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, and other Baloch Yekjehti Committee activists, along with the demand to release and trace Balochistan’s missing persons, some of whom have been missing for decades.
Charged with violating Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), she was initially detained under the law. However, the court dismissed the charges, and she was expected to be released. Instead, the Sindh Home Department intervened, re-arresting her under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance and sending her to Karachi Central Jail for 30 additional days. This move raised alarm over the arbitrary nature of her detention and the state’s growing intolerance toward peaceful activism, and a pattern that rights activists have long warned about: the use of vague legal tools to extend detentions without due process.
Sammi’s arrest, and re-arrest, during a peaceful protest was met with concern from civil society groups. Many saw it as part of a broader crackdown on Baloch rights activism, where the line between protest and ‘public disorder’ is drawn at the state’s convenience.
Health issues
Inside prison, Sammi’s health began to decline. Her family says she was denied proper medical attention. Outside, protests continued — led by women, students, and rights groups. But when she was finally released on April 1, it was without any public acknowledgment or assurance of safety.
Since then, Sammi has remained in hiding, citing serious security threats. Her absence speaks volumes about the risks that now come with raising your voice — even peacefully — in Pakistan.
Release
Sammi Baloch was finally released from Karachi Central Jail after the Sindh Home Department withdrew her detention order. While her family confirmed her release, they expressed grave concerns for her safety. According to Mehlab Baloch, Sammi’s sister, the threats to her life were so serious that they had to relocate her to an undisclosed, safe location immediately after her release.
In a social media post, Mehlab said, “After a long wait, our family has been reunited with @SammiBaluch. We still have concerns about her safety, (so) we are relocating her to a secure location. She is also dealing with some health issues, but once she stabilizes, she will be available on media platforms.”
This statement highlights the grim reality faced by activists like Sammi Baloch — their fight for justice comes at the cost of their own safety. Sammi, who has long been a vocal advocate for missing persons and the rights of the Baloch community, finds herself silenced by the State she was challenging.
Despite being free from prison, her freedom remains compromised by a constant and real fear for her life.
Social pressure
Prior to Sammi’s release on the evening of April 1, supporters gathered outside Karachi Press Club to show solidarity, despite it being the first day of Eid. Among the protestors were notable figures such as renowned artist Sheema Kirmani, and other civil society activists. The protest, however, was marked by the absence of several Baloch youth especially from the BYC — a stark reminder of the dangers facing those who stand up for human rights in Pakistan.
Artiste Sheemi Kirmani spoke passionately at the protest.
“Sammi Baloch has been part of every protest held here on Eid,” she said. “She has been advocating for the recovery of missing persons, every year but ironically this year she is the one we are protesting for, as she is behind bars. We are here, not just in solidarity, but to carry on her fight.”
The protest was a powerful moment of resistance, but it was also a sign of the growing tension between the state and civil society. Civil society leaders like Jibran Nasir and Khurram Ali took a strong stand, condemning the actions of the government and the courts.
“If the judiciary and civilian institutions fail to do their part, they too will be seen as collaborators in this system of oppression,” said Sammi’s lawyer Jibran Nasir.
While Sammi Baloch’s case has become a symbol of the broader struggle for Baloch rights and justice, it also underscores the deepening crisis of human rights in Pakistan. The state’s blatant silencing of activists shows a growing intolerance toward dissent and peaceful activism, which is increasingly seen as a threat to the status quo.
Sammi Baloch’s family is now preparing for a legal battle, with her detention being challenged in the Sindh High Court, and the case is set to be heard on April 7. The outcome could have broader implications for the future of peaceful protests and activism in the country. But for now, Sammi remains confined to a safe location.
What has happened to Sammi has not happened for the first time, neither is it about one individual’s struggle, but about a movement that continues to face increasing repression. As activists like Sammi continue to speak out for the voiceless, the question remains: how long will those who stand up for human rights be allowed to remain free?