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19 July 2025 | London — Amnesty International has issued an urgent appeal calling for the immediate release of six detained Baloch activists, highlighting Pakistan’s increasing use of arbitrary detention and repressive laws to silence dissent in the Balochistan province.
The organisation expressed grave concern over the continued imprisonment of prominent activists, including Dr Mahrang Baloch, Bebarg Zehri, Beebow Baloch, Shah Jee Sibghat Ullah, Ghaffar Qambarani, and Gulzadi Baloch. Their arrests, Amnesty reports, were carried out under laws designed for public order and anti-terrorism, but are instead being used to suppress peaceful protests and stifle freedom of expression.
“These detentions violate both international standards and Pakistan’s own legal framework,” Amnesty said in a statement. The six were initially detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), which allows for preventive detention, but Amnesty notes that the legal period of their detention has already expired as of 22 June 2025.
A case challenging the legality of their detention is currently pending before Pakistan’s Supreme Court. In the meantime, the activists were transferred to an anti-terrorism court on 8 July, just hours ahead of a judicial review board meeting that could have ruled on their release. The court granted law enforcement agencies a further 10-day remand based on alleged offences under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code.
The crackdown on Baloch activists intensified earlier this year. Bebarg Zehri, a disabled activist and organiser for the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was detained along with his brother in March. Dr Mahrang Baloch and Beebow Baloch were arrested days later during a peaceful protest following the fatal shooting of three demonstrators by law enforcement. Reports have emerged that the detainees have been denied access to adequate healthcare and legal representation, with families alleging torture and mistreatment.
The situation escalated further in July when five more activists were detained after demanding justice for the alleged extrajudicial killing of 21-year-old Zeeshan Zaheer. Women have also been disproportionately targeted in the recent wave of arrests.
“Pakistan’s authorities are using unjust laws and heavy-handed tactics to silence voices of protest and criticism in Balochistan,” Amnesty warned. “The new Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Act 2025 allows detention without charge for up to three months, further enabling abuse.”
Activists, lawyers and journalists have also faced intimidation. In April, a case was registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act against human rights lawyer Jalila Haider for expressing support for the detainees. On 6 July, Gulzar Dost, convenor of Kech Civil Society, was reportedly abducted by Counter-Terrorism Department personnel.
The broader context includes a staggering 2,332 cases of enforced disappearances recorded in 2024 by Pakistan’s Defence of Human Rights (DHR). Families of the disappeared continue to face harassment and surveillance for seeking accountability.
Amnesty International has called on the Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti to:
- Release all Baloch activists detained solely for peaceful protest and free expression.
- Drop charges and revoke all detention orders targeting activists.
- End the broader crackdown on peaceful dissent in the province.
Letters of appeal can be addressed to the Chief Minister’s Office in Quetta, with Amnesty encouraging supporters to act before 30 December 2025.
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