KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday restrained police from arresting or harassing Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch in a case pertaining to her alleged involvement in inciting people by levelling allegations against security institutions.

Dr Mahrang filed two petitions, through her counsel Jibran Nasir, seeking quashment of an FIR registered against her and for initiating an inquiry against certain police officers for allegedly assaulting her and her companions, snatching of her mobile phone and passport within the remit of the Airport police station.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar restrained the police from taking any coercive action against the petitioner as a consequence of the FIR registered against her.

The bench also issued notices to the inspector general of police (IGP), SSP-Malir and the SHO of the Airport police station, directing them to file their comments by Oct 21.

Advocate Nasir submitted that his client was a leading voice and representative of the youth of Balochistan. He stated that the petitioner had been subjected to unlawful detentions, malicious FIRs and even short-term enforced disappearances.

He further submitted that Dr Mahrang’s work had been recognised nationally and globally and she had been recognised by the Time magazine as 100 Most Influential Emerging Leaders of the Year.

He argued that alleged facts in the terrorism FIR were prima facie false, misleading and bogus.

Mentioning the incident that occurred after the petitioner was barred from boarding a flight to New York on Oct 8, the counsel submitted that after leaving the airport, policemen in two vehicles intercepted her car, manhandled her and her companions and snatched Mahrang’s mobile phone and passport.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2024