Mahrang Baloch

Mahrang Baloch^[a] (born 3 February 1993) is a Baloch human rights activist who advocates against alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses in Balochistan, Pakistan. She is the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).

Mahrang Baloch
مهرنگ بلۏچ
Baloch in 2024
Born	(1993-02-03) 3 February 1993 (age 32)[1] Mangocher, Balochistan, Pakistan[1]
Education	MBBS[1]
Alma mater	Bolan Medical College
Occupations	Doctor Human rights activist
Years active	2009–present
Organization	Baloch Yakjehti Committee[2]
Known for	Activism for the human rights of the Baloch people

Biography

Mahrang was born in 1993 into a Baloch family. Her father, Abdul Gaffar Langove, was an activist who spoke out against humans rights violations in Pakistan.^[3] She has a brother, Nasir Baloch, and several sisters, including Nadia Baloch.^[4][5]

Baloch is a medical professional, having earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Bolan Medical College in Quetta.^[6]

Activism

On 11 December 2009, her father was abducted by Pakistani security forces while on his way to the hospital in Karachi, but he was later released.^[7][3][8] At 16, she began protesting his abduction and quickly became a prominent figure in the student resistance movement.^[7][8][9] In July 2011, her father was abducted again and later found dead, showing signs of torture.^[7][8]

In December 2017, her brother was also abducted but was subsequently released.^[8][9][10] Since then, she has emerged as a leading figure in the Baloch resistance movement, protesting against the government's extraction of natural resources from Balochistan.^{[7][8][9][11][excessive citations]} In 2020, she led a group of students in a protest against the proposed removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College, which reserves spots for medical students from remote areas of the province.^[7] As a result of the group's activism and hunger strikes, the proposed policy change was cancelled.^[7]

Baloch has gained international support from prominent figures, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, who expressed her solidarity by tweeting, "Climate justice activists worldwide stand with Mahrang Baloch and other peaceful protesters who have been detained, tortured, and harassed by Islamabad Police for speaking out against human rights violations in Balochistan." This support emerged during the long march from Turbat to Islamabad, when Baloch women faced intense repression from state forces. Similarly, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai voiced her backing, tweeting, "I stand with my Baloch sisters who are demanding accountability for enforced disappearances. Peaceful protest is their right, and their voices must be heard." ^{[12][13][14][15][excessive citations]}

Baloch leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).^{[7][8][9][16][17][excessive citations]} On 28 July 2024, she participated in the Baloch Raji Muchi (Baloch National Gathering) in Gwadar, an event aimed at uniting the Baloch against these alleged abuses.^[18][6]

Recent developments

2023 Baloch Long March

Main article: Baloch long march

The Baloch Long March was a protest movement led by Baloch and other women activists from the Baloch Youth Congress (BYC). They journeyed from Turbat to Islamabad to protest human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan.^[19][2] According to the BYC, the protesters were detained by the Islamabad Police.^[20] Later, a bail was approved, leading to the release of some participants, although many remained missing, according to media reports and lawyers.^[21][22][23]

2024 Time magazine recognition and travel ban

In October 2024, Time magazine named Baloch one of the 100 emerging influential leaders of the year, recognising her extraordinary courage in opposing state oppression and her relentless advocacy against enforced disappearances and human rights violations in Balochistan.^[24][25] However, she was barred from traveling to New York City for a Time event and faced harassment at Jinnah International Airport. While returning home with Sammi Baloch, she endured further harassment from FIA officials, who confiscated her passport and mobile phone and attempted to abduct her. According to her lawyer, it was discovered that the Government of Pakistan had quietly added her to the Pakistan National Identity List (PNIL), a registry for individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities such as terrorism, money laundering, and fraud – just days after she appeared on Time magazine's influential list on 3 October.^[26][27] In response, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan called for "freedom of movement" for Baloch, while Mary Lawlor, a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defender, expressed deep concern on social media about the incident, citing reports of "harassment, intimidation and mistreatment".^[28]

Political harassment

On 11 October 2024, just days after Baloch was barred from traveling abroad, an anti-terrorism case was filed against her in the Malir District of Qaidabad by a local businessman. The complainant in the first information report accused Baloch of "inciting violence in his area", despite the Quaidabad station house officer being unable to confirm any such activities by Baloch or her colleagues.^[29][30] Baloch dismissed the charges as fabricated, attributing the case to the state's discomfort with her activism. She stated that such reports aim to intimidate those involved in their collective struggle.^[29]

Arrest

On 22 March 2025, Baloch was arrested during a raid on a sit-in protest in Quetta. The Balochistan government accused her and other BYC activists of orchestrating an attack on Quetta Civil Hospital and inciting violence. The same day, a violent protest broke out in Quetta when the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), led by Baloch, demanded the corpses of those killed during the military operation after the 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking. As per police report, the protesters stormed Civil Hospital Quetta and forcibly took possession of the militants bodies.^[31][32] Her arrest took place during a wider police crackdown on BYC demonstrations against enforced disappearances.^[33][34][35]

International Condemnation

The arrest sparked international condemnation from human rights organisations and prominent figures, including Malala Yousafzai and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, who called for her immediate release.^[36]

In a statement issued on 26 March 2025, a group of independent United Nations human rights experts expressed deep concern over the detention of Baloch. The experts criticized the Pakistani authorities for allegedly using arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and excessive force in response to peaceful protests. They called for the immediate release of Baloch and others detained, urging the government to refrain from misusing counter-terrorism measures against human rights activists and to clarify the whereabouts of those allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance.^[37]

Mistreatment during imprisonment

On 23 March 2025, following her arrest, Baloch was detained at Hudda District Prison under conditions described by her family and legal team as harsh and unlawful. According to her sister, Nadia Baloch, she appeared "weak and stressed" during a brief visit, and authorities denied her access to legal counsel and barred food brought by her family. She was reportedly held in isolation and not informed of any formal charges. Her lawyer, Imran Baloch, stated that the state had escalated its actions against her following her inclusion in the TIME100 Next list and her nomination for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.^[36]

Controversy

In February 2024, government spokesperson Aqeel Malik expressed concerns regarding the BYC, suggesting that the group's protests and demonstrations extended beyond human rights advocacy, incorporating narratives that could be perceived as challenging state authority. Additionally, he alluded to the possibility of foreign influence shaping their activism.^[38][39] Critics further argue that BYC serves as a soft front of militant organizations like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).^[40]

Following her arrest on 22 March 2025, authorities linked Baloch to protests in Quetta, where clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces. Officials claimed that a demonstration against enforced disappearances escalated into violence, with slogans and actions considered anti-state. However, human rights organisations and her supporters have refuted these allegations, asserting that the protests remained peaceful and that she is being unjustly targeted. While the Government of Pakistan views her activism as a potential challenge to national unity, her advocates argue that she is highlighting humanitarian concerns in Balochistan. These contrasting narratives underscore the broader tensions surrounding activism in the region.^[41][42]

In August 2024, during a press conference addressing news reporters, the Director General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) accused Mahrang Baloch led BYC movement of defaming law enforcement agencies fighting against terrorism, criminal mafias and extortionists and to create controversy around development projects in Balochistan.^[43]

Critics also claim that Baloch has remained silent on terrorist attacks committed by BLA and BLF in Baluchistan.^[44][45] On 23 May 2025, while addressing a presser, the Director General ISPR declared Mahrang Baloch a "terrorist-proxy".^[46] In response to the claims, Farhatullah Babar, the head of Pakistan People's Party Human Rights Committee warned against labelling Baloch or anyone associated with her "a terrorist" without evidence or trial.^[47] Baloch stated that allegations made by the Director General ISPR were "unsubstantiated" and her message was distorted.^[47]

Awards and nominations

In December 2024, Baloch was included in the BBC's 100 Women list.^[48] Time magazine also named Baloch in its TIME100 Next list,^[24] which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more".^[49]

In March 2025, Baloch confirmed through X that she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.^[50]

Notes

1. Balochi: مهرنگ بلۏچ, pronounced [meːh.rʌŋ bəl.oːt͡ʃ], Urdu: ماہ رنگ بلوچ, pronounced [mɑːh rʌŋ bə.loːt͡ʃ]