April 28, 2026
By Shaukat Korai
KARACHI
Standing on the footpath outside the Karachi Press Club, a mother, her daughter, and two other girls wanted only one thing: to know the whereabouts of their missing son and brother. That alone led to their arrest.
It was not the first time that families and loved ones from the Baloch community were arrested for simply gathering in a protest or in an attempt to hold a conferemce. On Saturday, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) member Fozia Baloch Shashani was arrested outside the Karachi Press Club with her mother and two others minor girls. It was not before 24 hours in police custody that the women were produced before a court, which ordered their immediate release.
Fauzia Baloch’s brother, Daad Baloch, has been missing since April 21. On April 22, she applied for permission to hold a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, but according to her, the administration continued to delay a response.
Speaking to Voicepk, Fauzia Baloch told what happened.
“We submitted a request to the Press Club on April 22 for a press conference. They told us they would inform us in a few days. Five days passed and there was no response. When we followed up, they asked us to wait longer. We then decided to hold the press conference on the footpath outside the Press Club — but as soon as we arrived there, all of us were arrested.”
The incident has drawn strong condemnation from civil society groups and human rights organizations.
Probing into those missing
Lawyer Jibran Nasir who was representing Fozia Baloch, described the incident as part of a wider and troubling pattern.
“The situation has become such that people are forcibly disappeared, and when families ask questions, they too face detention and cases against them. The same happened with Fozia Baloch — her brother is missing, and when she attempted to hold a press conference, she was arrested.”
Press clubs and shrinking civic space
Press clubs have long been seen as one of the few spaces where marginalised voices could still be heard. However, activists and lawyers say even those spaces are becoming increasingly restricted.
The Karachi incident is not an isolated one. In 2020, leaders of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), including Manzoor Pashteen, were prevented from holding a press conference at the Islamabad Press Club. Similar restrictions have since been reported in Karachi, Hub, Quetta, and other cities.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General and senior lawyer Salman Akram Raja spoke to Voicepk.
“The premises of press clubs were always considered inviolable. Even during General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law era, there were certain boundaries that were not crossed. Today, whether it is a press club, a bar association room, or even the sanctity of the home, those boundaries no longer appear to exist. Lawyers, journalists, and citizens must continue to speak out. Remaining silent is not an option.”
PECA act and concerns over freedom of expression
The incident comes at a time when Pakistan has dropped to 158th place out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2025 World Press Freedom Index. In 2024, Pakistan ranked 152nd, reflecting a further decline within a year.
Senior lawyer Akhtar Hussain linked the deteriorating environment to increasing restrictions on freedom of expression.
“Freedom of expression is essential for the development of democratic institutions. Without it, democracy loses its meaning. Laws such as the PECA Act have further narrowed civic freedoms. What is happening with journalists, the public, and the judiciary today is deeply concerning.”
He also argued that constitutional amendments and institutional pressures have weakened judicial independence and reduced avenues for accountability.
According to him, people once turned to press clubs when other spaces for expression were restricted, but even those avenues now appear limited. He called for collective efforts to protect constitutional rights, democratic institutions, and freedom of expression.
Where can these voices be heard?
The arrest and subsequent release of Fozia Baloch and her family is more than an isolated incident. For many observers, it reflects a broader environment in which even publicly asking about a missing family member can lead to detention.
And when access to formal platforms is restricted, questions continue to emerge about where citizens can safely raise their concerns and be heard.