Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) announced Sunday to continue their sit-in protest against the illegal detention of innocent Baloch activists till the time all of them are released by the Pakistani regime. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) protesting at Islamabad includes Baloch mothers, sisters, daughters and the elderly who continue to brave the sweltering heat, rain and thunderstorms over the last nineteen days demanding that BYC activists be released unconditionally as there are no grounds for their detention.
“Today marks 19 days since Baloch families arrived in Islamabad, demanding the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and an end to enforced disappearances ….despite mistreatment and constant harassment, these mothers, children, and elders remain steadfast in their demands,” said Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in their statement. Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) is a conglomeration of activists and intellectuals who are fighting for the human rights violation of Baloch by the Pakistani regime. BYC’s leader and organiser Dr. Mahrang Baloch was arrested by the Pakistani regime on March 22, 2025 and remains under illegal detention since then.
During Sunday’s press briefing at Islamabad the BYC activists raised the issue of illegal extension of the police remand of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch, Gulzadi, Mama Ghaffar, Shahji, and Beberg Baloch at the Quetta Anti-Terrorism Court. BYC activists said that the (Pakistani) police could not present any clear evidence against the detained BYC activists, “…despite this the court has yet again extended their physical remand for twenty days. Legal experts are of the opinion that remand beyond fourteen days under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) is possible only on the basis of solid evidence, which was not available here.”
Baloch activists said that despite the absence of any credible evidence, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her colleagues remain under unlawful detention on baseless charges of terrorism and for peacefully advocating human rights. “(Pakistani) judiciary’s repeated extensions of their remand underscore its complicity in state oppression and the worsening human rights crisis in Balochistan.” Baloch activists strongly criticized the inhumane behavior of the Islamabad police and district administration, adding that the Baloch students and youth participating in the sit-in are being harassed, their families are being pressured, and attempts have been made to use force to end the sit-in despite the protest being completely peaceful.
Balochistan continues to be under illegal occupation of the Pakistan Army so the entire administration, provincial government and even the courts are mere puppets at the hands of GHQ Rawalpindi. There being no rule of law, the judgements and orders are typed in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and stamped by the puppet judges installed in the courts of occupied Balochistan.