Lawyers representing renowned Baloch human rights activist and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch have initiated legal proceedings in response to allegations made against her by the military’s spokesperson.
A legal notice has been sent on behalf of Dr. Mahrang Baloch to Director General ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. The notice pertains to statements made during a press conference on May 23, 2025, and in the TV program “Hilal Talks” broadcast on June 2, 2025, in which Dr. Mahrang Baloch was accused of sympathizing with terrorists and acting as an agent of foreign powers.
The notice states that serious accusations were made against Dr. Baloch while she was in detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) at Huda Jail in Quetta. Her lawyers argue that she is a peaceful, law-abiding advocate for human rights and currently leads the BYC. She was featured in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2024 and has also been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
The legal notice highlights that the DG ISPR’s remarks portrayed Dr. Baloch and the BYC as linked to terrorism and alleged connections with Indian, Jewish, and Hindu elements. It also points to the dangerous rhetoric of declaring her “wajib-ul-qatl” (worthy of being killed), which has put her life at serious risk.
Lawyers further noted that shortly after the DG ISPR’s statements, a video was released by the militant group ISIS-Khorasan, in which individuals associated with BYC were openly threatened. This, the notice argues, shows an alarming resemblance between the state’s narrative and that of extremist groups.
Filed by Advocates Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, the notice includes the following demands:
- A full retraction of all allegations and a public apology.
- Removal of all video content from the press conference and “Hilal Talks” across all platforms.
- Payment of Rs. 10 million in damages.
The notice makes it clear that if the demands are not met within 14 days, civil and criminal proceedings will be initiated against the DG ISPR.
Advocate Imaan Mazari stated that this step marks an important precedent, showing that human rights defenders in Pakistan are legally challenging defamation, threats, and state propaganda. She emphasized that Dr. Mahrang Baloch has always upheld peaceful resistance, yet continues to face systematic character assassination and threats to her life by state actors.
