Pakistani authorities have intensified their crackdown on Baloch human rights defenders, with a troubling shift toward targeting family members as a form of retaliation. On April 5, 2025, the father of prominent woman human rights defender Dr. Sabiha Baloch was arrested in Hub Chawki, Balochistan, in what rights groups describe as a clear reprisal aimed at forcing her to surrender to the authorities.
Dr. Sabiha Baloch is a member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a grassroots network documenting enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions in Balochistan. Her advocacy, particularly in mobilizing peaceful demonstrations such as the Baloch Long March and the Baloch National Gathering in 2024, has led to repeated acts of harassment, threats, and the prior abductions of both her brother and another relative—each held for months without due process before being released.
According to Front Line Defenders, Dr. Baloch’s father has been held incommunicado since his detention, with no access to legal representation or family. The organisation reports that authorities have allegedly conditioned his release on Dr. Baloch turning herself in. Security forces have also conducted raids across multiple locations in an apparent effort to detain her.
On the same day, the father of fellow woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch was also arrested under similar circumstances. These arrests, say advocacy groups, illustrate an emerging pattern of collective punishment targeting families of activists—a tactic long denounced under international human rights law.
Since March 2025, several members of the BYC have been arrested amid rising tensions in Balochistan, where protests and civic activism have drawn violent responses from state forces. Dr. Baloch has continued to document abuses, calling for the release of detained protesters and colleagues.
In a public statement issued on April 7, Front Line Defenders condemned the arrests and ongoing reprisals, stating:
“These actions are designed to silence legitimate dissent and intimidate human rights defenders into submission. The use of family members as leverage marks a disturbing escalation in the persecution of peaceful activists.”
The organisation called on the Pakistani government to immediately disclose the whereabouts of detained relatives, release all individuals detained in connection with peaceful activism, and investigate the use of collective punishment against Baloch defenders.
Context & Background:
Balochistan has long been the epicenter of political unrest and human rights concerns in Pakistan. The region has witnessed decades of enforced disappearances, military operations, and restrictions on freedom of expression. Civil society groups, especially those led by women, have faced growing pressure in recent years.
The BYC, one of the few platforms highlighting state violence in Balochistan, has repeatedly accused Pakistani security forces of conducting extrajudicial operations under the guise of national security. Human rights watchdogs including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Front Line Defenders have documented systemic abuses in the province.
References:
- Front Line Defenders (2025, April 7). Pakistan: Woman Human Rights Defender Sabiha Baloch Facing Imminent Arrest and Reprisals. https://www.frontlinedefenders.org
- Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). Public statements via verified social media platforms.
- Reports from local and international rights organizations on Balochistan (Amnesty International, HRCP, Human Rights Watch).
Human-rights picture-by-Nick-Youngson-CC-BY-SA-3.0-Pix4free
