Retired police surgeon Dr Ayesha Faiz has been arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a case was registered against her under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), according to police sources.
Police said the case was filed following a press conference held at the Quetta Press Club, during which Dr Faiz criticised Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and the provincial Home Minister.
During the press conference, held a few days earlier, Dr Faiz spoke about the overall political situation in Balochistan, its historical background and recent developments. She also discussed the role of women in the Baloch independence movement and criticised the Chief Minister’s reported remarks regarding the bulldozing of apple orchards in Mastung and the possible displacement of residents in the event of future violent incidents.
Police sources said the case had been registered under various provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, the specific sections invoked, the detailed grounds for her arrest and further information regarding the legal proceedings have not yet been disclosed.
Meanwhile, a senior politician Nawabzada Haji Lashkari Raisani condemned Dr Faiz’s arrest, stating that the government had crossed “legal and moral boundaries”. He further claimed that the arrest suggested Pakistan’s Constitution and the rule of law were not being applied in Balochistan.
Raisani also called on international human rights organisations to pay attention to the human rights situation in Balochistan and to play a role in preventing alleged violations.
Separately, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Sabiha Baloch strongly criticised the arrest, describing it as an attack on civil liberties and public rights in Balochistan.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Dr Sabiha said Dr Ayesha Faiz, who recently retired after serving for many years as the region’s only female police surgeon, was a senior citizen who deserved respect and dignity rather than arrest and mistreatment.
She said Dr Faiz’s arrest was not merely an action against an individual doctor but reflected what she described as the rapidly shrinking space for civil and democratic freedoms in Balochistan.
Referring to the Chief Minister’s reported remarks regarding the destruction of orchards in Mastung and the displacement of local residents, Dr Sabiha said many conscientious citizens had raised concerns over the potential consequences of such measures, including Dr Faiz.
She argued that the orchards represented years of labour, investment and care by local communities and served as a source of livelihood for numerous families as well as a key component of the local agricultural economy. According to her, their destruction would not only damage private assets but also undermine livelihoods and economic stability in the area.
Dr Sabiha further said the destruction of orchards could have serious environmental consequences. She noted that trees play an important role in maintaining soil fertility and stability, protecting biodiversity, supporting local ecosystems and preserving environmental balance. Their removal, she said, could contribute to soil erosion, habitat loss, agricultural degradation and broader environmental risks.
She added that the issue was not simply about trees, but concerned environmental protection, economic security, the preservation of agricultural land and the right of local communities to have a say in decisions affecting their future.
Criticising the authorities’ response, Dr Sabiha questioned why a citizen who raised concerns over the potential consequences of a policy was arrested, while officials responsible for making such policy statements were not being held accountable.
She further stated that the arrest exposed what she described as an increasingly authoritarian approach to governance in Balochistan, stating that governments which respond to criticism with arrests demonstrate intolerance and insecurity.
Dr Sabiha called for the immediate release of Dr Ayesha Faiz and urged the authorities to address concerns regarding the proposed destruction of orchards, environmental impacts and the possible displacement of local residents.
No official statement responding to the remarks made by Raisani or Dr Sabiha Baloch had been issued by the government at the time of publication.