Protest leader Mahrang Baloch faces unlawful detainment in Quetta jail

In Balochistan, Pakistan, relatives of Dr Mahrang Baloch reported that they were denied access to meet her or deliver food during her detention in Quetta District Jail. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), of which Mahrang is a leader, organized protests after her arrest along with 16 other activists at a sit-in opposing enforced disappearances on March 19, 2025. Supporters of the committee staged protests in various parts of Quetta and other Balochistan cities, demanding the release of their leaders. The call for protests coincides with a regional strike against police actions resulting in fatalities among protesters, which the administration controversially denied, maintaining that armed elements within the protest had triggered violence. Activists and human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, expressed outrage at Mahrang's legal status, highlighting her unlawful detention status that has extended beyond 38 hours, urging her release. The situation escalated with reports of violence, including torching of properties, spurring further protests throughout the region. The unrest reflects broader grievances about police response to dissent in Balochistan and ongoing tensions surrounding issues of enforced disappearances and state repression.