KECH, BALOCHISTAN: A female activist and member of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) has been arrested and transferred to an unknown location by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in Turbat, Kech, according to reports, in an incident that comes just one day before a planned protest rally by the BYC in the same city.
The arrested woman has been identified as Syed Bibi Baloch, a BYC member and activist who is also the sister of Dr. Hanif Shareef, a renowned Balochi language fiction writer. According to sources, Syed Bibi was taken into custody from the Shahi Tamp area of Turbat by CTD personnel Yesterday, following which she was transferred to an unknown location.
No official statement was issued by authorities regarding her arrest or current whereabouts at the time of initial reporting.
The development came at a significant time, as the Baloch Yekjehti Committee had already announced a protest rally in Turbat the following day against the life imprisonment sentences handed down to its leaders, appealing to activists and citizens to participate in large numbers.
In anticipation of the planned protest, Turbat Police imposed Section 144 across Kech district, banning all public gatherings, rallies, and demonstrations. Authorities stated the measure was taken to maintain law and order in the area.
BYC Condemns Arrest, Calls it Pakistani Fascism
Following the arrest, the Baloch Yekjehti Committee issued an official statement strongly condemning what it described as an illegal action, calling it an act of Pakistani fascism.
According to the BYC statement, CTD personnel violated the sanctity of Syed Bibi Baloch’s home at approximately 9:30 PM on Tuesday night, arresting her without any legal justification and taking her away. The BYC confirmed she is currently being held at the Women Police Station in Turbat, and that authorities reportedly indicated she would be released once the protest concludes. The organization described this conduct as oppressive and unacceptable.
The BYC statement highlighted that Syed Bibi Baloch has been listed under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act for the past four months, and has been regularly reporting to the CTD office every week in full compliance with the legal requirement. Despite this, she was arrested from her home without any additional legal justification.
The BYC further stated that following the organization’s announcement of the Turbat protest rally, CTD officials had continuously called and harassed Syed Bibi Baloch by phone in the hours prior to her arrest.
The BYC sharply criticized the use of the Fourth Schedule law in Balochistan, stating that while it is part of the Anti-Terrorism Act, it is being misused to harass political activists, students, teachers, ordinary citizens, and even underage minors, restricting their freedom of movement. The organization noted that multiple students have been prevented from continuing their education due to this law, while the public lives under constant mental pressure and insecurity.
The BYC said that whenever a protest is announced in any city, individuals listed under the Fourth Schedule are summoned to CTD offices and harassed as a deliberate tactic to suppress political activity and silence dissent.
The Baloch Yekjehti Committee appealed to international human rights organizations to take notice of the arrest, to raise their voices for the immediate release of Syed Bibi Baloch, and to play an effective role against the ongoing repression of political activists, restrictions on civil liberties, and what the organization described as fascist governance in Pakistan.
