Balochistan: Seminar against Crackdown on BYC Leaders and Human Rights Violations

SHAAL (QUETTA): The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) organised a seminar in Kech on Saturday evening to condemn the ongoing crackdown on BYC leaders, illegal arrests, and the torture of detainees in custody. The event drew a large number of political activists, social workers, and local residents, and spotlighted the persistent human rights violations faced by the Baloch people.

Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a prominent BYC leader, addressed the gathering and criticized the state’s continued attempts to silence the Baloch voice. She exposed the role of state-sponsored propaganda platforms such as Voice of Balochistan, which she said receive millions in funding to suppress the truth. “The blood and bodies of the Baloch cannot remain silent; they speak for themselves,” she said. “The blood being shed is the guarantee of our resistance.”

Dr. Sabiha also expressed deep concern over the grief endured by Baloch mothers whose children have gone missing or been killed in alleged fake encounters. “The pain inflicted on our mothers by the state can no longer be silently endured,” she said. “Those mothers who have lost their loved ones are the symbols of our resistance. We must give them hope that the Baloch nation stands with them.”

The seminar also shed light on the alarming pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Citing numerous cases involving the Marri Baloch community, Dr. Sabiha said, “In every fake encounter, the Marri Baloch of Kohlu, Kahan, and Barkhan are being targeted. In one household, a father and his two sons were forcibly disappeared. Later, one son’s body was dumped in a fake encounter, followed by the other brother’s in a separate incident in another fake encounter while the father remains missing. And the state expects their mothers and sisters to remain silent? That is not possible.”

She urged attendees to unite against such injustices and emphasised the importance of solidarity. “We must send a clear message to these grieving mothers and sisters: Do not remain silent; the Baloch nation stands with you,” she said.

Touching on the broader issue of Baloch resistance, Dr. Sabiha stressed the need for self-determination and political rights. She called on every member of the Baloch community to contribute to the struggle whether as doctors treating the injured, lawyers defending the oppressed, or citizens offering support to victims. “When each individual connects with collective consciousness, only then can strong national unity be achieved,” she said.

Addressing the audience, Advocate Mehrab Gichki of the Baloch National Party (BNP) and Majeed Shah Advocate, President of the Kech Bar Association, voiced strong criticism of the state’s policies on enforced disappearances and human rights abuses. Both called for legal and judicial reforms to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

A panel discussion featuring families of missing persons provided a heart-wrenching account of the emotional and psychological toll of enforced disappearances. Their testimonies served as a powerful reminder of the human cost of the conflict in Balochistan.

The seminar also celebrated Baloch culture and literature. A special poetry session featured renowned and local poets who recited verses on the pain, perseverance, and hope of the Baloch people.

As the seminar concluded late into the evening, participants reaffirmed their commitment to the mission of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, pledging to continue their struggle for justice and self-determination. The event served as a strong demonstration of the Baloch people’s resilience and unity in the face of ongoing oppression.

As Dr. Sabiha Baloch concluded, “As long as the Baloch exist, the BYC lives on.”