THE continued detention of BYC head Mahrang Baloch and five other activists indicates that the state is uninterested in engaging non-violent Baloch elements in dialogue. In fact, the administration seems intent on keeping Ms Baloch and her colleagues in detention by any means necessary. The BYC leader, who has led a campaign against enforced disappearances, was arrested by the authorities in March, and since then, has been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. On Tuesday, she and the other activists were remanded in police custody for a further 10 days. The process appears to be arbitrary, and boosts perceptions that the state is not averse to waging lawfare against rights campaigners to deny them their freedom.

Ms Baloch has approached the Supreme Court requesting it to set aside a BHC judgement dismissing constitutional petitions challenging her detention. The plea claims that the BYC leader’s detention is “unjustified and disproportionate”. This paper has long argued that the treatment of political activists and rights defenders in such a manner — particularly through the use of legal instruments designed to nab and punish terrorists — is counterproductive and reduces space for a political and democratic solution to Balochistan’s problems. Moreover, the state does not appear to have strong evidence against Ms Baloch and her colleagues, especially to back the serious charges they face. It is also true that going after political forces actually strengthens the separatists’ narrative. While Balochistan faces a genuine threat from separatist terrorism, punishing those who peacefully campaign for rights will do little to counter this threat. Instead of keeping activists and political elements in jail under vague interpretations of the MPO and other laws, the state needs to let the democratic process flourish in Balochistan. When all pressure valves are closed, and those demanding rights in the province are locked up, it will only fuel further alienation from the state.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2025