QUETTA: The detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch has been extended for another month under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), her lawyer confirmed on Monday — but without any official notice being issued to her legal team or family.
Mahrang, along with several other BYC activists, was arrested on March 22 following allegations of inciting unrest and “attacking” Quetta Civil Hospital. The arrests came a day after a protest by the BYC in Quetta against alleged enforced disappearances was met with a violent police crackdown.
On April 10, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) reserved its verdict on a petition filed by Mahrang’s sister, Nadia Baloch, demanding her release along with other activists detained under the MPO — a colonial-era law that grants sweeping powers to detain individuals deemed a threat to public order.
However, Mahrang’s lawyer Imran Baloch told Dawn.com that instead of receiving an official decision, he was informally told by the Quetta jail administration that the one-month detention period — which was set to expire on April 22 — had been extended for another month.
“No formal notification has been issued by the Home Department, but we’ve been informed through the jail administration,” he said, expressing concern over the lack of due process and transparency in the extension.
He further noted that the Home Department was expected to formally decide on whether to prolong her detention but appears to have done so without informing the legal counsel or issuing a public order. “They claim the extension gives the family an opportunity to seek legal remedies — but how can remedies be sought if even the basic documentation is withheld?” he asked.
The legal team plans to file an application with the Home Department to request a formal copy of the order. “If we are not provided with the notification, we will approach the court,” Imran said.
The arrest and continued detention of Dr Mahrang Baloch — a well-known voice against enforced disappearances in Balochistan — has drawn condemnation from both domestic rights bodies and international observers.
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor said she was “very concerned” about the reports of Mahrang’s arrest. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also condemned the state’s heavy-handed response and urged the government to respect the right to peaceful dissent.
In a show of protest, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) launched a long march from Wadh to Quetta on March 28, demanding the release of BYC activists, including Mahrang and Sammi Deen Baloch. The march culminated in a sit-in, which ended on April 16, with BNP-M leadership announcing plans for a wider public outreach campaign.
