Dr. Mahrang Baloch, central organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has warned of a potential crackdown by authorities ahead of the group’s January 25 national gathering in Dalbandin, organized to protest what the BYC describes as the “ongoing Baloch genocide.”
In a message posted on the BYC’s official social media account, Dr. Mahrang said a “significant deployment” of Frontier Corps (FC) and police personnel has been observed in Dalbandin. She also alleged that convoys traveling to the city from other regions of Balochistan are being stopped and denied entry.
According to her, the Pakistani military distributed pamphlets overnight, warning residents not to attend the upcoming national gathering. She also noted that the city lacks both local and international media presence, and now faces a social media blackout, which she described as the only channel for amplifying their voices.
“We fear the state might use the internet shutdown to suppress our peaceful gathering,” Dr. Mahrang said, urging the Baloch nation to reach Dalbandin despite the restrictive measures. She encouraged those unable to travel to Dalbandin to raise their voices on social media in solidarity.