A leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Dr Mahrang Baloch, has written about her detention, political struggle and the situation in Balochistan in an article published in The Guardian.
In her writing, Dr Baloch, who is currently held in Quetta’s Central Jail, said she has completed one year in solitary confinement in Block 9. She stated that her detention has failed to halt her political struggle, adding: “My peaceful struggle continues.”
Dr Baloch, who heads the BYC, wrote that she and two of her colleagues are being held separately from other female prisoners on account of being political detainees. She described solitary confinement as more distressing than physical hardship, particularly as, according to her, her family has faced pressure due to her activities.
In the article, she stated that her cousin Salal Baloch and Saifullah Baloch were subjected to enforced disappearance. She further wrote that her brother had been placed on the “Fourth Schedule”, resulting in increased surveillance, travel restrictions and financial constraints. She also said that her sister faced legal cases and alleged harassment after speaking at press conferences.
Dr Baloch noted that access to phone calls in prison is restricted, while court hearings are held inside the prison, limiting public access. She wrote that her arrest and detention are a consequence of her advocacy for the rights of the Baloch people and have strengthened her resolve.
She also raised concerns regarding what she described as state repression, enforced disappearances, and the targeting of Baloch women. According to her, the BYC documented more than 1,200 cases of enforced disappearances in 2025.
Dr Baloch stated that the BYC operates within the framework of Pakistan’s constitution and advocates peaceful resistance against human rights violations. She said the organisation condemns violence and rejected what she described as attempts to link the movement with armed groups.
Concluding her article, she wrote: “Memories become sharper in captivity, but the clearest among them is my homeland, Balochistan. We will continue our peaceful resistance.”