An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday remanded Baloch Yak-jehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch and other organisers of the group to police custody for 20 days.
The court once again extended its remand. In March, Mahrang and other BYC members were arrested for “attacking” the Quetta Civil Hospital and “inciting people to violence”, a day after the group faced a police crackdown while protesting against alleged enforced disappearances.
According to reports, Baloch has been held at the Hudda District Prison in Quetta under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). It is a significant law that empowers authorities to arrest and detain individuals suspected of posing a threat to public order. Last month, a Quetta court had sent Baloch and other arrested members of the group to 15-day police custody. Advocates Israr Baloch, Shoaib Baloch and Awais Zehri appreared in the court on behalf of the BYC.
Israr told Dawn.com that Mahrang, Beebow Baloch and Gulzadi were present in court. “Dr Mahrang and the other BYC members’ remand was approved. They were handed over to police custody for 20 days,” he said, adding that the police had requested that they be remanded for 30 days.
Sammi Deen Baloch, a prominent Baloch activist, reacted to the move and wrote on X: “An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta on Saturday remanded Baloch Yak-jehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch and other organisers of the group to police custody for 20 days, once again extending her detention.”
