QUETTA: The Balochistan High Court (BHC) has asked the sister of detained Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch to approach the provincial government for her release.

Ms Baloch, the BYC chief organiser, has been detained at the Quetta district jail for more than 20 days under Section 3 of the Mainte­nance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, which allows authorities to detain people suspected of endangering public safety or order.

Ms Baloch’s sister, Nadia, had filed a petition in the high court against the detention.

The petition was heard by a BHC bench comprising acting chief justice Muhammad Ejaz Swati and Muhammad Aamir Rana.

Lawyers Kamran Murtaza, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Imran Baloch, Rahib Buledi and Sajid Tareen argued the detention of Dr Baloch was illegal and sought her release.

The court had reserved its judgment after hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday.

In its verdict on Tuesday, the bench disposed of the application and directed the petitioner to approach the Balochistan Home Department.

Imran Baloch, the petitioner’s lawyer, said the court has directed them to approach the Home Department, which issued the order of Ms Baloch’s detention.

He claimed that Ms Baloch’s arrest was illegal as authorities didn’t follow the procedure. “That’s why a petition was filed in the high court.”

The lawyer said they would approach the Home Department, but if it upholds the detention of Ms Baloch under MPO, then “we will again approach the high court”.

In a press conference, Nadia Baloch, sister of the detained BYC leader, slammed the order, saying the court has “withdrawn from its constitutional and legal authority”.

She said sending the issue back to the government, which arrested Ms Baloch without following the due process, was “against the demand of justice”.

She said if the BHC had dismissed their application altogether, then they could’ve appealed the verdict in the Supreme Court.

However, the order — which is not an outright dismissal — has “blocked our way to approach the apex court,” Ms Nadia said.

She added the Home Department will now form a committee comprising bureaucrats to decide the case without any deadline.

“The case might be decided in a day or one year.”

If the committee decides against releasing Dr Baloch, her sister said they would have to again approach the high court and then the Supreme Court.

“Deliberately a difficult path has been established with the aim to delay justice,” she said.

She appealed to the judiciary, lawyers’ community and human rights organisations to play their role in securing Ms Baloch’s release.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2025