BWF Organiser Dr. Shalee Baloch Released After Growing Public Pressure, UN Expert Statement

SHAAL (QUETTA): Dr. Shalee Baloch, Central Organiser of the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), who was arrested earlier today along with three of her colleagues during an awareness campaign in Gwadar Balochistan, has now been released. The BWF confirmed on social media that all four women have safely returned home.

“The Central Organiser of the Baloch Women Forum, Dr. Shalee Baloch, along with the other three organisational sangats (comrades), have just been released and returned to their home,” the statement read. “At our best, we denounce the act of the law enforcement agencies who hindered the way of peaceful political activities using their powers excessively. We also extend our gratitude to everyone who stood by us at this time and raised their voice for the safe and immediate release of our central team.”

The group added that a full, detailed statement would be released soon.

Earlier in the day, Gwadar police claimed that Dr. Baloch and her colleagues were arrested for allegedly engaging in anti-state wall chalking and distributing pamphlets. SSP Gwadar Zia Mandokhail stated that the arrests were carried out on those grounds. The women were initially held at the Gwadar Women Police Station before being transferred to Turbat.

The arrests sparked an immediate and strong backlash from local activists, civil society, and international human rights bodies. Many accused the state of attempting to stifle peaceful political activity and silence Baloch women’s voices.

“This arrest is not an isolated incident,” said the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in a statement. “It is part of a larger, systematic crackdown on every voice that dares to dissent against the state’s oppressive policies in Balochistan. We are living under a silent and undeclared martial law, where repression is veiled in the language of democracy. The arrest of women activists today is yet another desperate attempt to crush Baloch political consciousness.”

The BYC also highlighted that many of its leaders have been held for over four months without charge or trial, and enforced disappearances continue across Balochistan with impunity.

International concern was amplified by Mary Lawlor, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, who issued a statement on social media:

“Disturbed by reports that WHRD [Women Human Rights Defender] Shalee Baloch has been arrested in Surbandar as she travelled to Gwadar to participate in a gathering of Baloch women scheduled for tomorrow. Shalee is a convener of the Baloch Women Forum and her arrest takes place against a backdrop of a reported increase in persecution of Baloch HRDs in Pakistan.”

Lawlor’s statement reflects increasing global scrutiny of the shrinking space for human rights advocacy and peaceful assembly in Balochistan, particularly among women and grassroots organisers.

While the release of Dr. Shalee Baloch and her colleagues has brought momentary relief, the circumstances surrounding their detention have renewed calls for an end to arbitrary arrests and the harassment of peaceful activists. Rights groups and the BWF continue to demand accountability for unjustified use of force against lawful political expression.