Latest news with #Mahrang
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Detained Pakistan rights activist ends hunger strike
QUETTA: Jailed activist Mahrang Baloch, a leading campaigner for Pakistan's Baloch minority, has ended a hunger strike after a court asked authorities to justify her detention, her lawyer told AFP on Tuesday. Mahrang Baloch, 32, was arrested last month on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder. Security forces are battling a growing insurgency in her native Balochistan, an impoverished province that borders Afghanistan and Iran. Rights groups say the violence has been countered with a severe crackdown that has swept up innocent people. Mahrang and four other detained activists from her organization, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), had stopped eating on Thursday in protest against alleged misconduct by police and ill-treatment the activists claim to have been subjected to in detention. The judiciary has declined to rule on Mahrang's detention for more than a month, effectively halting any appeal and placing the matter solely in the hands of the provincial government. But the Balochistan High Court agreed on Monday to consider an application to overturn her administrative detention, her lawyer Imran Baloch told AFP. Mahrang's detention was renewed for a second month a week ago. 'Petition got admitted by high court and notices were issued to government,' the lawyer said, adding that a hearing was scheduled for Wednesday. Mahrang and the other activists agreed to end their hunger strike after meeting with her family and lawyers on Monday, Imran Baloch said. A group of 13 UN human rights experts expressed concern on Tuesday over the detention of BYC leaders and their supporters. 'Pakistan appears to conflate legitimate human and minority rights advocacy and public demonstrations with terrorism, threatening freedoms of expression, assembly, and association,' the independent experts, who are appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, said in a statement. They also noted the ban on several Baloch activists from leaving the country, which includes Mahrang. A dozen UN experts called on Pakistan last month to immediately release Baloch rights advocates, including Mahrang, and to end the repression of their peaceful protests. For two decades, members of the Baloch minority have denounced extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances and arbitrary arrests in Balochistan — Pakistan's most resource-rich province, where 70 percent of inhabitants are poor. Pakistani authorities say the accusations are unfounded. Insurgents in Balochistan accuse outsiders of plundering the province's natural resources and launched a dramatic train siege in March, during which officials said about 60 people were killed.
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Baloch activist launches hunger strike
Detained activist Mahrang Baloch has launched a hunger strike along with other detainees, her sister told AFP on Friday. Mahrang Baloch, 32, was arrested last month on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder. Mahrang's hunger strike "is aimed at denouncing the misconduct of the police and the failure of the justice system to protect... prisoners," her younger sister, Nadia Baloch, said. Nadia said the hunger strike was launched on Thursday after the attempted "abduction" of one of the Baloch detainees. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), said the inmate was beaten by security officials and taken from the prison to an unknown location. A security official said the detainee was moved to another prison and denied any mistreatment. BYC said four other detained Baloch activists have joined the hunger strike. "All of them are peaceful political workers, imprisoned for raising their voices... Their only 'crime' is organising peacefully in an environment saturated with state terror and violence," the group said.
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Mengal blasts PPP for arresting women in Balochistan
Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of his faction of the BNP-M, on Friday lashed out at the PPP for arresting women in Balochistan, saying that even under Portuguese and British colonial rule or during martial law regimes, women were never taken into custody. He expressed these views during a public gathering held in Gwadar, where a large number of people, including women, children and the elderly, were present. "We are not here for political point scoring, but to raise our voice for the rights that have been denied to Balochistan," he said while addressing the crowd. Sardar Mengal said they are not afraid of being arrested, as their workers and colleagues have been detained during multiple authoritarian regimes. "We were arrested whether it was the dictatorship of General Ayub Khan or the era of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto," he added. He lamented that the PPP has always targeted Baloch youth, citing examples such as the Lyari gang war and the 1973 military operation in Balochistan. "They still say 'Bhutto Zinda Hai' - thank God he is not [alive], otherwise no home in Balochistan would have been spared," he said. He alleged that the very foundation of the PPP is built on the blood of Baloch youth. Questioning the state institutions, he said that courts can open at midnight to topple a government, but cannot listen to the grievances of the people of Balochistan. He added that Parliament can convene to pass a bill, but there is no room to hear the miseries of the Baloch people. "The state labels every voice raised against the atrocities in Balochistan as a terrorist. Today, Mahrang and Bebow are being labelled terrorists. Tomorrow, I too will be called one," he said. He said that despite having the latest technology, arms, and nuclear weapons, the state is afraid of Mahrang.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Detained Mahrang Baloch launches hunger strike
QUETTA: Detained activist Mahrang Baloch, one of the leading campaigners for Baloch rights, has launched a hunger strike along with other detainees, her sister told AFP on Friday. Mahrang Baloch, 32, was arrested last month on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder. Mahrang's hunger strike 'is aimed at denouncing the misconduct of the police and the failure of the justice system to protect... prisoners,' her younger sister, Nadia Baloch, said. Nadia said the hunger strike was launched on Thursday after the attempted 'abduction' of one of the Baloch detainees. Mahrang's organisation, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), said the inmate was beaten by security officials and taken from the prison to an unknown location. A security official said the detainee was moved to another prison and denied any mistreatment. BYC said four other detained Baloch activists have joined the hunger strike. 'All of them are peaceful political workers, imprisoned for raising their voices... Their only 'crime' is organising peacefully in an environment saturated with state terror and violence,' the group said. Activists say in the crackdown against militancy in the region authorities have harassed and carried out extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians. Authorities reject the 'baseless allegations'. A dozen UN experts called on Pakistan in March to immediately release Baloch rights defenders, including Mahrang, and to end the repression of their peaceful protests.
Arab News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Detained Pakistan rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch launches hunger strike
QUETTA: Detained activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch, one of the leading campaigners for Pakistan's Baloch minority, has launched a hunger strike along with other detainees, her sister told AFP on Friday. Mahrang Baloch, 32, was arrested last month on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder. In her native Balochistan, an impoverished province that borders Afghanistan and Iran, security forces are battling a growing insurgency. Rights groups say the violence has been countered with a severe crackdown that has swept up innocent people. Authorities deny heavyhandedness. Mahrang's hunger strike 'is aimed at denouncing the misconduct of the police and the failure of the justice system to protect... prisoners,' her younger sister, Nadia Baloch, said. Nadia said the hunger strike was launched on Thursday after the attempted 'abduction' of one of the Baloch detainees. Mahrang's organization, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), said the inmate was beaten by security officials and taken from the prison to an unknown location. A security official said the detainee was moved to another prison and denied any mistreatment. BYC said four other detained Baloch activists have joined the hunger strike. 'All of them are peaceful political workers, imprisoned for raising their voices... Their only 'crime' is organizing peacefully in an environment saturated with state terror and violence,' the group said. Activists say in the crackdown against militancy in the region authorities have harassed and carried out extrajudicial killings of Baloch civilians. Pakistani authorities reject the 'baseless allegations.' A dozen UN experts called on Pakistan in March to immediately release Baloch rights defenders, including Mahrang, and to end the repression of their peaceful protests. UN special rapporteur for human rights defenders Mary Lawlor said she was 'disturbed by reports of further mistreatment in prison.' The judiciary has declined to rule on Mahrang's detention, effectively halting any appeal and placing the matter solely in the hands of the provincial government. Insurgents in Balochistan accuse outsiders of plundering the province's rich natural resources and launched a dramatic train siege in March, during which officials said about 60 people were killed.
