Father of Baloch woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch arrested
On 5 April 2025, Pakistani authorities arrested the father of Baloch woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch. He is currently detained at the Hudda District Prison in Balochistan under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Act (MPO). The woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch has also been held at the same prison under the MPO since her arrest on 22 March 2025.
Beebow Baloch is a Baloch woman human rights defender and member of the Baloch Yajkehti Committee (BYC), an umbrella organisation advocating against human rights violations in Balochistan. Beebaw Baloch is a vocal advocate for human rights, actively participating in peaceful campaigns in Balochistan. The woman human rights defender is facing reprisals due to her human rights work, calling for an end to violations against the Baloch community and accountability for perpetrators in the region, including security forces.
On 5 April 2025, Pakistani authorities arrested the father of Baloch woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch. He is currently detained at the Hudda District Prison in Balochistan under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Act (MPO). The woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch has also been held at the same prison under the MPO since her arrest on 22 March 2025.
Beebow Baloch is a Baloch woman human rights defender and member of the Baloch Yajkehti Committee (BYC), an umbrella organisation advocating against human rights violations in Balochistan. Beebaw Baloch is a vocal advocate for human rights, actively participating in peaceful campaigns in Balochistan. The woman human rights defender is facing reprisals due to her human rights work, calling for an end to violations against the Baloch community and accountability for perpetrators in the region, including security forces.
On 5 April 2025, Beebow Baloch’s father was summoned for an inquiry by the Balochistan police, despite having no involvement in the protest movement. Witnesses, including family members, state that his phone and car keys were confiscated and that he was taken away to an unknown location in a separate vehicle. For several hours, there was no information about his whereabouts, causing concern for his physical and mental safety. It was subsequently confirmed that Beebow Baloch’s father has also been detained at the Hudda District Prison under Section 3 of the MPO. His arrest demonstrates a pattern of collective punishment employed against the families of human rights defenders as reprisal for their work. Earlier the same day, woman human rights defender Dr. Sabiha Baloch’s father was also arrested by Balochistan police in order to pressure her to surrender to authorities and stop her human rights work.
On 22 March 2025, Balochistan police arrested woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch during a peaceful sit-in in Quetta, Balochistan. Beebow Baloch and other human rights defenders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, were protesting the brutal State violence used against peaceful protesters the previous day, 21 March, which killed 3 people and injured at least 7 others. The group were also calling for the release of jailed human rights defenders, including BYC member Bebarg Zehri, who was arrested with his brother on 20 March. At around 5.30 am, police officers disrupted the peaceful sit in and arrested Beebow Baloch, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and several others. Beebow Baloch has been held under Section 3 of the MPO ever since at the Hudda District Prison. She has so far been denied access to bail.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by the continued incarceration of woman human rights defender Beebow Baloch and the targeting of her family as a reprisal against her work. The organisation asserts that Pakistani authorities must release jailed human rights defenders and cease their campaign of reprisals and arbitrary arrests, as such actions have had the clear objective of quashing legitimate dissent in Pakistan.
Front Line Defenders calls on the Pakistani authorities to:
1. Immediately release Beebow Baloch and her father as the organisation believes their imprisonment to be a reprisal for her legitimate human rights work;
2. Provide Beebow Baloch and her father access to family visits, legal counsel and medical treatment;
3. Initiate an impartial and effective inquiry into the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters, including human rights defenders, with the aim of publishing the findings and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;
4. Ensure that Baloch human rights defenders in Pakistan are protected from reprisals, and end their ongoing persecution and punishment in the State, including for exercising their right to free expression and peaceful dissent, under the guise of national security.
