A spokesperson for the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) has raised alarm over a serious death threat received by prominent Gwadar-based journalist Javed Baloch, also known as Javed MB. According to the statement, Javed has long been known for his fearless reporting on environmental issues, human rights violations, and political injustices in Balochistan — subjects often overlooked by Pakistan’s mainstream media.
Javed Baloch is a senior journalist and the writer and editor of Gwadar-based news outlet “Gwadar-e-Tawar”, which covers news stories from Gwadar and across Balochistan. Javed had recently received serious life threats due to his reporting of some of the most critical issues facing Balochistan today.
The BYC statement said that the threat reportedly came via a phone call from a man identifying himself as “Irfan,” who claimed to be associated with the Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG). Verified local sources allege that the caller is linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. The BYC emphasized that this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of harassment, intimidation, and violence against journalists in the region.
Javed’s case follows closely on the heels of another incident involving a Barkhan-based journalist who had gone missing last month and was released on Sunday after a wave of public pressure. That journalist, Asif Karim Khetran, had also reported being harassed by security officials prior to his disappearance — a reflection of the deepening risks faced by those covering sensitive issues in the province.
The BYC statement said threats like these represent a grave violation of journalists’ fundamental rights, particularly the right to free expression as outlined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Pakistan is a signatory.
The group urged the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and international press freedom watchdogs including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to take immediate notice of the threat against Javed Baloch.
The statement also called on both domestic and international organizations working for press freedom and journalist safety to extend support and protection to Javed and to advocate for structural reforms that ensure the safety of reporters operating in conflict-affected areas like Balochistan.
“Silencing critical voices through threats and violence is a direct attack on truth, accountability, and democratic values,” the statement said, urging that journalist protection be treated as an urgent priority.