Quetta: The Home Department of Balochistan has released a new list of Baloch political and social activists who have been placed under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997.
According to the official notification, the list includes 64 individuals, among them human rights activist and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) member Mahzeb Baloch, Advocate Shahzaib Baloch, Comrade Imran Baloch and several other prominent political and social figures.
Sources said that most of the names belong to members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The Home Department claimed that the move aims to “maintain law and order” and to monitor suspicious activities across the province.
However, political and human rights activists have strongly condemned the decision, calling it an attack on democratic freedoms. They said the government has made it a routine practice to use anti-terrorism laws as a weapon to suppress political dissent a move they describe as unconstitutional and a violation of basic civil rights.
Human rights organizations and civil society groups have urged the government to end the harassment of political activists through the Fourth Schedule and to ensure space for peaceful, democratic and constitutional political activities in Balochistan.
According to reports, several of the individuals named in the list are affiliated with various political groups and organizations actively involved in raising awareness on human rights, enforced disappearances and the fair distribution of resources in Balochistan.
