Nadia and Iqra Baloch, sisters of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, the central organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), allege she has been subjected to mental torture in prison and fear she may face further harm.
In a statement posted on X, Nadia Baloch said she and her younger sister Iqra, along with their mother, went to Hudda District Prison to see Dr. Baloch. They claim they were made to wait eight hours before being allowed to speak with her through a thick glass barrier and telephone.
“The prison staff is being completely changed, and intelligence agencies are monitoring the facility,”
Nadia explained, adding that a separate room for visits is under preparation, equipped with cameras and microphones.
She said these measures violate Dr Baloch’s fundamental rights, particularly in light of a Balochistan High Court directive allowing in-person meetings.
According to the family, Dr Baloch has been unwell for three days and has not received adequate medical attention. They said only a junior doctor performed a brief examination.
“We demand an independent medical board immediately examine her,”
they said, insisting Dr. Baloch’s health “has significantly deteriorated.”
They also criticized jail authorities for refusing food from outside, alleging prison-provided meals might be unhygienic or harmful.
“We are deeply concerned that her condition is critical,”
they added.
Nadia and Iqra Baloch urged international human rights organizations, political leaders, and civil society to intervene. They called on Pakistani authorities to comply with court orders and ensure humane treatment for detainees in line with international standards.
“Mahrang is not a criminal; she is a leading human rights advocate,” they said referencing numerous statements by global watchdogs.
Several international groups and individuals — including Nobel laureates Malala Yousafzai and Narges Mohammadi, the United Nations, and Amnesty International — have previously called for Dr Baloch’s immediate release.
Dr Mahrang Baloch has now been held for over a week under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), along with hundreds of other Baloch activists. Her arrest has sparked a wave of protests across Balochistan, including shutter-down strikes, wheel-jam campaigns, and sit-ins, demanding her release and an end to alleged state repression.
Front Line Defenders Issues Urgent Appeal
In a statement, international human rights organisation Front Line Defenders also raised concern over Dr Baloch’s condition and called for her immediate release.
“The woman human rights defender has been denied access to medical treatment despite her worsening health,” the organization said.
It added that unhygienic prison food may be contributing to her deteriorating condition, and that frequent internet shutdowns in the region have made it difficult for her family to share updates or access information.
Front Line Defenders called on Pakistani authorities to:
- Immediately release Dr. Mahrang Baloch as the organization believes her imprisonment to be a reprisal for her legitimate human rights work;
- Provide immediate access to quality medical treatment, and allow unrestricted visits from her family and legal representatives;
- Cease the targeting of Baloch human rights defenders under the guise of national security.