CIVICUS calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Pakistani human rights defender Dr. Mahrang Baloch. The 17000-member global civil society alliance condemns Pakistan’s unfair imprisonment of the woman human rights defender for her peaceful activism.
“Dr. Mahrang Baloch is punished simply for speaking out against human rights violations and standing for the rights of the Baloch people. Her continued detention is a clear violation of Pakistan’s international human rights obligations. It reflects a broader pattern of harassment against activists, journalists, and dissenting voices,” said Reylynne Dela Paz, Advocacy and Campaigns Lead, CIVICUS.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was arrested along with other activists on 22 March 2025 during a peaceful sit-in protest in Quetta, calling for release of detained BYC members. Since her arbitrary detention, authorities have brought a series of charges against her. Anti-terrorism laws and the public order ordinance have been used to criminalise her legitimate human rights work. She has previously faced charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act and sedition.
CIVICUS also flags due process violations against Dr. Baloch. These include including denial of access to legal counsel, lack of transparency on charges, and the use of closed proceedings. Reports indicate concerns about her health, access to adequate medical care and treatment in detention. Baloch’s arbitrary detention is indicative of escalating crackdowns on Baloch activists and human rights defenders in Pakistan. Authorities have increasingly relied on vague laws, including counter-terrorism legislation. They have been used to silence peaceful dissent, documentation of abuses such as enforced disappearances, and calls for accountability.
“The Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Mahrang Baloch and drop all charges against her and other Baloch activists. They must also end the misuse of counter-terrorism and public order laws to target activists. The government must guarantee a safe and free environment for all human rights defenders in Pakistan” added Dela Paz.
CIVICUS urges the international community, including the United Nations, to intensify pressure on Pakistan to uphold its human rights commitments and ensure accountability for violations against activists.
Civic space in Pakistan is rated as “repressed” by the CIVICUS Monitor.
