A protest was held on Tuesday in Basima, Washuk district, demanding the immediate release of Mahjabeen Baloch and her brother, Younus Baloch, who were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces last week.
The demonstration, held at Basima’s main square, drew participation from a broad cross-section of society, including women, students, elderly residents, and members of civil society groups.
Protesters carried photographs of the missing siblings and placards with slogans such as “Stop Enforced Disappearances” and “Bring Our Loved Ones Back.” They also chanted slogans denouncing Pakistani security forces and state policies in Balochistan.
The protest escalated into a sit-in, which was later called off after negotiations with Assistant Commissioner Habib Kakar. Protesters issued a 24-hour ultimatum, warning that if Mahjabeen and Younus are not released within the stipulated time, a province-wide protest campaign would be launched. They also warned that if any harm comes to Mahjabeen or Younus, the state and its institutions would bear full responsibility.
Mahjabeen’s sister, Ruqia Baloch, addressed the crowd, saying the family was enduring ongoing trauma. She urged authorities to present Mahjabeen and Younus before a court if charges exist, rather than subjecting them to illegal detention.
The family said Younus Baloch was abducted from their home in Basima on 24 May, while Mahjabeen—a Library Science student at the University of Balochistan—was taken from Quetta Civil Hospital Hostel in the early hours of 29 May.
According to the family, security forces and intelligence agencies raided the hostel without presenting a warrant, and no information has been provided since. Neither sibling has been brought before a court, and no formal investigation has been reported.
The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) described Mahjabeen’s detention as an “act of cowardice,” condemning the illegal custody of a Baloch woman for days without information, charges, or court production. “This is getting unbearable and intense,” the BWF said in a statement, calling for Mahjabeen’s immediate release.
Dr. Sabiha Baloch, a senior leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), said: “The state is brazenly continuing genocide against the Baloch. It is forcibly disappearing our youth in broad daylight and under cover of darkness—now even targeting women and children.”
She stressed that silence in the face of such repression is dangerous. “When the enemy sees that we are gripped by fear, it grows more emboldened to inflict further cruelty.” Dr. Baloch urged the Baloch nation to stand with the families of the disappeared and resist state repression. “If we remain silent, this shame will scar our generations forever.”
Meanwhile, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), Baloch Social Media Activists (BSMA), and Baloch Activists Alliance Media (BAAM) have announced a social media campaign under the hashtag #ReleaseMahjabeenAndYounusBaloch.
The campaign, scheduled for Tuesday from 6 PM to 12 AM, aims to amplify the call for the safe recovery of Mahjabeen and Younus Baloch. BVJ, BSMA, BAAM, and the family have urged the Baloch people, human rights advocates, and concerned citizens worldwide to join the campaign and raise their voices for the siblings’ immediate release, calling for global solidarity to hold Pakistani authorities accountable.