Balochistan: Mahal Baloch’s family ends their sit-in protest

QUETTA: The family of Mahal Baloch in a press conference from the sit-in protest at Red Zone in Quetta announced to suspension of their protest.

In their press release, the family said Mahal was arrested nine days ago on 17 February 2023 at 11 o’clock in the night, along with her two daughters, an old mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law, by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Police of Quetta.

Later, others were released, but the next day, in a statement issued by the CTD, false allegations were made against Mahal Baloch. Criminal cases were commenced against her based on these false allegations, which are entirely fabricated and baseless.

According to the family’s statement, Mahal Baloch is an innocent widow who has come to Quetta from Kech for the education and future of her daughters. She is being tortured during detention, the witnesses of which are the family members who were detained with her that night.

“We kept hearing her crying, shouting and screaming from the next room.”

 When Mahal was presented in court for the first time, her lawyer was not informed. She was not even given a chance for legal proceedings. She is being physically remanded based on false cases, due to which she is suffering from severe mental stress and has become weak.

Yesterday, she fell unconscious on the court premises. Her condition was not good. Due to severe mental pressure and remand, she has become frail.

The family said that for the past three days, they have been sitting in front of the governor’s house in the red zone for her release and the termination of the cases against her.

 Ending their sit-in protest they said, “We, as peaceful citizens of this country – aided by the constitution and laws of this country – announce here today to end our protest sit-in from the red zone hoping that the judiciary will surely give justice to the Baloch people.”

We strongly appeal that criminal cases and FIR against Mahal should be withdrawn and she should be released immediately.