A terrorism case has been registered in Mastung against journalist Niaz Baloch for uploading a video of Baloch activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s speech on social media, according to a First Information Report (FIR) seen by The Balochistan Post.
The case was registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), which alleged in the FIR that the video contained “anti-state” speech by Dr. Mahrang Baloch.
Reacting to the case, Niaz Baloch said he was a student and that his family was already facing significant hardships. “I am a student, my father is a bus driver, and my younger siblings are studying in university and college,” he said.
He said that for the past two years he and his family had been facing “state oppression and hardships,” adding that the difficulties began because his writing spoke about the situation of the Baloch people.
According to Niaz Baloch, despite the challenges he had continued to contest the case in court and eventually secured bail after legal proceedings in the Mastung Sessions Court.
He said Advocate Chief Attaullah and Advocate Najeeb Shahwani represented him during several hearings, adding that the case was later transferred from Mastung to the Sessions Court in Quetta.
The journalist said he did not have the financial means to fight such a serious case alone and appealed to the legal community in Balochistan for support.
“I am a student and cannot fight this case alone,” he said, urging lawyers in the region to assist him in pursuing the legal case.