Balochistan: Dr. Mahrang Baloch Rejects DG ISPR’s Allegations

SHAAL (QUETTA): Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist and leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has strongly responded to the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) after being accused of being a “proxy of terrorists.”

In a powerful statement shared on the social media platform X, Dr. Baloch called out the repeated nature of such accusations, emphasising that they are made without any credible evidence.

The DG ISPR’s allegations were based on Dr. Baloch’s previous public statements about the Jaffar Express hijacking incident, in which she raised concerns over the identities of over two dozen dead bodies brought to civil hospital Quetta. Dr. Baloch clarified that her stance has always been one of transparency, not an endorsement of violence.

In her statement, Dr. Baloch explained that during her press conference in March, she never justified or excused any act of violence.

Her sole concern, she emphasised, was the need for accountability. “The families of those buried in secret graves deserve answers,” Dr. Baloch wrote. “I called for transparency regarding the identities of the bodies, beyond the twelve militants publicly identified by the armed group involved in the Jaffar Express attack. Over two dozen bodies were brought to Civil Hospital Quetta, yet their identities remain unknown.”

Dr. Baloch also criticized the broader pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. She stated that after violent incidents in the region, Pakistani security agencies have been implicated in secretly burying victims, only to later label them as “militants.” She called for an independent investigation into these allegations, describing the situation as deeply concerning.

“There is no doubt that systemic repression, enforced disappearances, and a lack of justice are ongoing in Balochistan,” Dr. Baloch wrote. “Rather than address these issues, the state has chosen to target those who speak out against these atrocities.”

Dr. Baloch also challenged the military establishment’s claims of intelligence capability, questioning why no evidence has been presented to support the accusations against her. “If Pakistan’s intelligence and military institutions are as capable as they claim, where is the proof?” she asked. “My activism is grounded in human rights values, and I have consistently condemned violence from all parties, whether committed by non-state actors or the state itself.”

In her closing remarks, Dr. Baloch appealed to the international community to take notice of the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan. “The people of Balochistan deserve justice, not smear campaigns. They deserve answers, not threats. Above all, they deserve to live without fear,” she stated.

Dr. Mahrang Baloch has long been an outspoken advocate for the rights of the Baloch people, frequently criticising military operations, enforced disappearances, and human rights abuses in the region.