This is an endless script – a forced disappearance, months of silence, a staged killing. The names change, but the story remains the same. Family members are initially silenced with fear, but inevitably join the ranks of the activists and protestors, and become easy targets as they are already on the State’s radar.
Fathers and sons, now increasingly daughters, from professional middle class families, are joining the fight against the oppression of the Baloch people by the Pakistani State, a saga that began in 1948 when the then independent kingdom of Kalat was annexed at the instance of Governor-General Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The provinces of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also aggrieved with the Punjabi Sunni domination of the country, though the Baloch have been the most steadfast warriors in their quest for rights and justice. Since 2018, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYK) have held annual marches to draw the attention of the international community to their grievances.
The Daughters
Since December 2023, Dr Mahrang Baloch, a general surgeon and member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYK), has participated in the Aurat March launched by BYK and other Baloch groups. An eloquent speaker, she quickly drew large crowds and attracted the attention of the authorities. She was arrested in March 2025 as the movement gained strength and popularity.
The current agitation began on November 23, 2023 when the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed that the 24-year-old Balach Mola Bakhsh, forcibly disappeared in October, was “killed in an encounter” with security forces in Turbat city, Baluchistan.
The CTD had presented Balach Bakhsh to an “anti-terrorism” court on November 21, 2023, for allegedly possessing five kilogrammes of explosives. He died in state custody. His family staged a sit-in protest in Turbat on receiving his body, and demanded an investigation into his death and punishment of those responsible. On November 25, a local court ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against CTD officials, but the police resisted until the High Court intervened. However, the culprits remain free to this day.
In December, the Aurat March moved to the provincial capital, Quetta, to demand justice for Bakhsh and save other young men from this fate. After three days, they marched to Islamabad despite stiff resistance from the police; nearly two dozen marchers were arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan, others (including Mahrang Baloch) faced sedition cases in different parts of the province.
Forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings began in the mid-1970s and focused on the families and followers of the Marri, Bugti and Mengal leaders. As Baloch resistance to Pakistani oppression spread at the turn of the century, thousands were “disappeared”, brutally murdered and their bodies dumped on desolate mountains or on deserted roadsides with grim signs of torture.
Writing for Al Jazeera, Mahrang Baloch described how her father, Abdul Ghaffar Lango, a member of the Baluchistan National Party (BNP) and associated with Khair Bakhsh Marri’s reading circle, was “disappeared” from outside a hospital in Karachi, Sindh, in December 2009.[1] When the police refused to register an FIR, the family appealed to the Sindh High Court. But the top officials, including the chief of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, the inspector-general of Sindh Police, and home secretary of Sindh, among others, defied the court’s orders to register an FIR. Eventually, in July 2011, Lango’s bullet-riddled body with signs of torture was found in an abandoned hotel in Lasbela district, Baluchistan.
As the eldest of six children, Mahrang decided to focus on her education. But in December 2017, her brother, Nasir Baloch, also “disappeared”. Mahrang began a campaign for justice for all the countless Baloch sharing the same fate. Nasir was released in March 2018.
Balach Mola Bakhsh’s death in November 2023 strengthened Baloch determination to fight these atrocities. The Aurat March reached Islamabad on December 20, 2023. On December 23, 2023, they began a sit-in in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad. The police attacked them with batons and water cannons in the freezing cold. Nearly 290 protesters, including Mahrang, were arrested; they were released after the intervention of the Islamabad High Court.
Under pressure from the authorities, the marchers ended the sit-in on January 23, 2024, and returned to Quetta. They announced a new protest on January 27, 2024, and despite a ban on gatherings of more than three people, managed to gather thousands to protest. In mid-January 2024, Baloch rebels attacked Mach city, and the authorities retaliated by killing five persons in fake encounters. Three of the affected families had joined the Aurat March.
On March 28, 2025, Mahrang’s sister, Nadia, wrote an open letter to the people expressing anxiety over Mahrang’s health and denial of medical care.[2] After vomiting the whole night of March 27, a doctor was finally called on March 28. Nadia briefly met Mahrang on March 28, 2025, and Mahrang complained about surveillance cameras, lack of proper beds, food, and the violation of her rights as a political prisoner.
PEN Norway, Amnesty International and UN human rights bodies urged the immediate release of Dr Mahrang Baloch.[3] Molavi Abdul Hamid, an important leader in Iranian Baluchistan, urged the authorities to release Dr. Mahrang Baloch and dialogue with her and her colleagues.
Mahrang wrote an open letter from prison (March 27, 2025) recalling that her father had dedicated himself to Baloch rights, a path embraced by his children. She exhorted them to remember that “True strength is not just physical; it is mental and ideological… Never allow yourselves to break. And always remember, your sister is not weak. Weakness is not something we inherited.” On April 5, 2025, Mahrang proved her mental toughness by refusing an offer to release her, and demanded freedom for all detained activists.
Sammi Deen Baloch
Mahrang’s colleagues Sammi Deen Baloch, Beebo Baloch, and Bibagar Baloch, were also imprisoned. Sammi Deen was detained under the draconian Balochistan Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960, without formal charges, and no visitations rights.[4] First arrested during a peaceful demonstration on March 24, 2025, she was released on the orders of a court, but rearrested on March 25 by the Karachi police. Sammi is a winner of the Front Line Defenders Asia Award. Her father “disappeared” around June 28, 2009. She was eventually released on April 1, 2025.
Bibagar Baloch
Incarcerated in Huda Jail, Quetta, with Mahrang Baloch and other activists, Bibagar suffers from a spinal cord injury. Her chronic ill-health requires daily medical check-ups but she has been denied medical care and her family denied visitation rights.
Gulzadi Baloch
Gulzadi Baloch, member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, was abducted from her home by Counter Terrorism Department officers on April 7, 2025. She was detained for hours in an unknown place and tortured before being brought to Huda Jail, Quetta.
Former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal expressed anguish at her abduction, calling it “a grave violation of human rights and a blatant act of injustice. One has to wonder what message the authorities are trying to send by targeting voices instead of addressing legitimate concerns.”
Sardar Akhtar Mengal
Akhtar Mengal, leader of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal, has been leading a Baloch Long March from Wadh to Quetta (March 28, 2025) to protest against the arrests of citizens fighting for human rights. He said the “Pakistan army is too afraid to fight the Baloch guerrillas in the mountains, and instead targets peaceful women protesters in the cities. Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen are Baluchistan’s honour.”
On April 2, 2025, Akhtar Mengal said that he would announce a new protest as talks with the government regarding the recent arrests of rights activists had failed. In a statement shared on X (Twitter), Mengal lamented that the authorities had shut down all cellular networks and home WiFi in Balochistan, in order to “silence the voices of the oppressed. But no matter how many phones you disconnect, how many Baloch you abduct, or how many of us you imprison – we will continue to raise our voices. The more you try to suppress us, the louder we will become.”[5]
He said that senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members coming to join the sit-in were prevented from reaching the site. Hundreds of activists were detained by police near Mastung; Akhtar Mengal and his party workers survived a suicide bombing.[6] Brahumdagh Bugti, leader of the Baloch Republican Party, condemned the suicide attack on Sardar Akhtar Mengal and his peaceful rally, calling it “a blatant act of terrorism. Targeting those exercising their democratic rights is an assault on freedom itself.”[7]
The Baluchistan National Party’s Media Cell posted (Mar 30, 2025) that following the suicide attack near the sit-in camp on March 29, 2025, Sardar Akhtar Mengal announced that he would celebrate Eid with the participants of the sit-in protest. The party lamented that far from meeting their demands, the authorities reportedly abducted BYC leader Shah Jee Baloch, and his brother and nephew, from Quetta.
The Sons
Sibghatullah Shah
A central committee leader of the BYC, Sibghatullah Shah was abducted from his home in Satellite Town, Quetta, by security forces on March 30, 2025. The same day, his younger brother, Dr Sanaullah, a professor at the Makran medical college, was reported missing.
Anas Baloch
Anas Baloch, son of Maulana Barkat, was another victim of custodial killing. He was forcibly disappeared by security forces in October 2022, but was later released. On October 2, 2024, he was abducted again and on March 29, 2025, his bullet-riddled body was found dumped near the Kech River.[8]
Nabeel Nodh
A young poet, Nabeel Nodh, a nephew of Sibghatullah Shah, has been missing since the morning of March 23, 2025, when he was detained at the border of Do Besth Panja.[9] His family has been denied information his whereabouts and he has not been produced before a court of law so far. Nabeel recently graduated from the department of Balochi at the University of Balochistan.
Shams Alam
Shams Alam recently passed the PCS written exam and gave his viva interview. He was waiting for the results when he was reported missing (March 30, 2025).
Siraj Buzdar
An ardent TikToker from Koh-e-Suleiman, Siraj Buzdar used to urge people via videos to join a protest in Taunsa Sharif for the safe release of Dr. Mahrang. He was attending the protest when Taunsa police arrested him and 15 other protestors, whose whereabouts are still unknown. (March 29, 2025).
Khadim Baloch
Khadim Baloch, a higher secondary Science student, was forcibly disappeared by Pakistan intelligence on March 15, 2025.
Kiyya Baloch
Kiyya Baloch, 20, a student of English Literature and resident of Mashkay Kallar, Awaran, was abducted from the Daro Hotel Hub Chowki, on April 2, 2025. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee alleged that he was taken by intelligence officials.
Khalil Ahmed Baloch
Khalil Ahmed “disappeared” soon after his son, Naveed Baloch, was safely recovered, the family reported on April 4, 2025.
Nawabzada Gohram Bugti
Gohram Bugti, provincial leader of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), was arrested on April 4, 2025, under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). He had announced a long march from Dera Bugti to Quetta in protest against the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders.[10]
At a press conference, JWP’s central information secretary Shams Kurd said the party had earlier issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and other imprisoned Baloch women, following which they had planned to launch a long march. He said, “The JWP firmly believes in peaceful democratic struggle within the framework of the Constitution. The arrest of our provincial president has only strengthened our resolve, and we will continue our fight for the release of Baloch women.”
Abdul Malik Baloch
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee announced that Abdul Malik Baloch, a resident of Kohing, Kalat, was among four persons in an encounter in Zehri area of district Khuzdar. Malik was forcibly disappeared on October 11, 2024, from Turbat. His bullet-riddled body was found on April 5, 2025.
Notes
[1] A new chapter in the Baloch struggle for justice in Pakistan, Mahrang Baloch, Al Jazeera, Feb 8, 2024.
[2] Nadia Baloch, March 28, 2025.
[3] Amnesty International and UN Officials Call for Immediate Release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, AA Online Desk, March 30, 2025.
[4] Sammi Deen Baloch re-arrested by Karachi Police, March 28, 2025.
[5] Pakistan: Balochistan National Party-Mengal to announce next phase of protests tomorrow, The Express Tribune, April 2, 2025.
[6] BNP Mengal long march hit by suicide bombing near Mastung, no casualties reported, The Express Tribune, March 29, 2025.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2537105/bnp-mengal-long-march-hit-by-suicide-bombing-near-mastung-no-casualties-reported
[7] Brahumdagh Bugti Condemns Suicide Attack on Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s Peaceful Rally, Page3News, March 30, 2025.
[8] Custodial Killing of Anas Baloch: A Clear Act of State Terrorism by Pakistan, Facebook, March 29, 2025.
https://www.facebook.com/BalochYakjehtiCommitee/posts/custodial-killing-of-anas-baloch-a-clear-act-of-state-terrorism-by-pakistananas-/974624381470589
[9] Nabeel Nodh: A Caged Poet, Ali Jan Maqsood, The Baloch News, March 26, 2025.
https://www.thebalochnews.com/2025/03/26/nabeel-nodh-a-caged-poet-ali-jan-maqsood/
[10] Jamhoori Watan Party condemns arrest of party leader Gohram Bugti, Dawn, April 5, 2025.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1902207
Chintan India Foundation blog, 14 April 2025
https://chintan.indiafoundation.in/articles/baloch-saga-of-grit-amidst-adversity/
