The Amnesty International has called for the release of Baloch activist Bebarg Zehri, who was taken into custody on March 20, 2025, from his home in Quetta by officials of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
According to Amnesty, Zehri has now spent a year in detention, which the organization described as unlawful. His family has expressed serious concerns over his health, safety, and continued detention, urging authorities to ensure his immediate release.
In statements highlighted by Amnesty, family members described the moment of his arrest as deeply distressing. They said that just hours before his detention, the family had been preparing to welcome relatives returning from Umrah, when Zehri was taken away. “In those first few hours, we felt completely lost,” a family member said, adding that they were left in shock and uncertainty.
The family also raised alarm over his medical condition, noting that Zehri is paralyzed and requires constant care and medication. They fear that he was taken without his necessary treatment and warn that his condition makes him highly vulnerable to infections. According to them, he has previously undergone surgery due to poor conditions and may face serious health risks in custody.
“Our greatest concern is his health,” the family stated, expressing fear over how his condition is being managed while detained. They added that they have no information about whether he is receiving proper medical care.
Amnesty International has urged authorities to end the detention of Bebarg Zehri and other Baloch activists held for peaceful activism. The organization has also launched an urgent action campaign calling on supporters worldwide to demand their release.
The case has once again drawn attention to concerns raised by human rights organizations regarding enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and the treatment of political activists in Balochistan.
