Asa Zafar Baloch Urges BYC Leaders to End Hunger Strike

SHAAL (QUETTA):  Former Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Asa Zafar, Baloch has appealed to Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her fellow detainees—Beebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Shah Ji Baloch, and Beebagr Baloch—to immediately end their ongoing hunger strike, which has entered its fourth day.

In a public statement, Asa Zafar described the hunger strike as a symbolic act that, under current circumstances, may only serve to harm the very leaders who represent the hope and future of the Baloch nation. He emphasised that expecting a reaction or sympathy from the state of Pakistan through peaceful protest or self-sacrifice is, in his words, “pointless and futile.”

“The state has made it clear through its actions that it remains unmoved by the hunger strike or other protest measures taken by Baloch leaders,” Zafar said. “In fact, it appears that the authorities are indifferent or even pleased if these leaders harm themselves. Continuing this strike is tantamount to weakening our own leadership.”

Zafar also expressed his concern over the deteriorating health of the detainees and called on the broader Baloch community to act.

He urged Baloch political leadership, legal advocates, civil society organisations, and religious scholars to collectively persuade Dr. Mahrang Baloch and the others to end their hunger strike and conserve their strength for the broader struggle for Baloch rights and national aspirations.

“These leaders, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her companions, are symbols of resistance and the future of our people,” he stated. “It is the moral responsibility of every conscious and concerned individual in our society to ensure their safety and well-being.”

Zafar’s remarks come at a critical time, as concerns grow over the physical condition of the imprisoned leaders, who launched the hunger strike in protest against torture and mistreatment by Pakistani authorities inside the jail. Their continued detention and the CTD’s assault on them have sparked outrage across Balochistan and among human rights advocates.