BYC Leaders Go on Hunger Strike Against State Violence & Torture in Prisons
QUETTA: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has announced that its central leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Shaji Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and Beebagr Baloch, have gone on hunger strike in Jail to protest against the ongoing state violence in prisons.
The move comes after reports of severe physical torture, abductions, and threats faced by these leaders in custody.
In a statement issued by the BYC, the organisation strongly condemned the actions of the Pakistani state, labelling the detention of these political activists as a violation of basic human rights.
According to the BYC, the leaders have been imprisoned solely for raising their voices against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the ongoing violence against the Baloch people. The statement emphasised that the leaders’ only crime was peacefully resisting the oppression of the Baloch people in an environment marred by state terrorism.
The struggle of these activists has intensified in recent days as reports emerged about the treatment of female BYC leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, and Gulzadi Baloch.
According to eyewitness accounts and relatives, these women were subjected to severe torture and abduction by officers from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) during their detention at Huda Jail.
In a particularly disturbing incident, Beebow Baloch was reportedly tortured and threatened with death by the CTD officers. Her brother, in recorded video message, confirmed that Beebow Baloch had been subjected to harsh surveillance and physical abuse. During the meeting with relatives, Beebow also mentioned that her fellow inmates, Dr. Mahrang and Gulzadi Baloch, had also been tortured.
A statement released by Dr. Sabihah Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, confirmed the gruesome details of the torture, especially focusing on the physical abuse Gulzadi Baloch endured. Dr. Sabihah described how Gulzadi’s body bore deep marks of torture, and her face was bruised. Furthermore, she revealed that an officer named Zarghoona Tareen threatened Gulzadi with death, saying, “Your life is now in our hands.”
Dr. Sabihah Baloch condemned the use of state violence, stating that this was not just an attack on individuals but on the entire peaceful national movement of the Baloch people.
“Ideologies cannot be shackled in chains, and movements cannot be silenced with whips and guns,” she said.
The BYC has called upon the Baloch nation, human rights organisations, and international bodies to show solidarity with the imprisoned leaders. “This is not just a movement; it is a fight for survival, dignity, and existence,” said the statement from the committee. They have also warned that any harm to the health or lives of the detained leaders will be the full responsibility of the Pakistani state.
The committee has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and all other political prisoners, as well as legal action against the responsible authorities, including Zarghoona Tareen and other CTD officials.
VBMP Condemns Arrests, Calls for Immediate Release
Separately, The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has also condemned the arrests of the BYC leaders and called it a severe violation of fundamental and human rights.
During a recent meeting, VBMP’s cabinet stressed that detaining political activists under 3MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) and subjecting them to extrajudicial torture was unacceptable. The VBMP has demanded that the authorities immediately release the detained BYC leaders and cease the ongoing torture.
The VBMP’s chairman, Nasrullah Baloch, condemned the state’s actions, stating that the unlawful detention and mistreatment of peaceful activists only exacerbates the situation in Balochistan. He urged the government and relevant authorities to release the leaders with dignity and called on international human rights organisations to raise their voices against the atrocities.
The VBMP also raised concerns over the continued delays in the recovery of missing persons and the growing incidents of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The organisation emphasised that these unlawful and unconstitutional actions would only lead to further instability in Balochistan.
As part of its ongoing efforts, VBMP announced plans to hold a press conference in the near future to outline their next course of action in response to the increasing state violence.
Both BYC and VBMP have reaffirmed their commitment to the peaceful resistance of Balochistan’s people, declaring that no amount of oppression or violence can silence the collective voice of the Baloch nation.
