An anti -terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta on Saturday sent on Saturday the Baloch Jakjehti (Byc) committee, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other organizers of the group to police custody for 20 days, once again extending its arrest.
In March, Mahrang and other members of Byc were arrested for “attacking” the Civil Hospital of Quetta and “incite people to violence”, a day after the group faced a police repression while protested against alleged forced disappearances.
Mahrang has been carried out in the prison of the district of Hudda in Quetta under section 3 of public order maintenance (MPO), a law that empowers authorities to arrest and detain people suspected of representing a threat to public order. Last month, Quetta ATC delivered to the Chief of Byc and other organizers of the police custody group for 15 days.
The defenders Israr Baloch, Shoaib Baloch and Awais Zehri appeared on behalf of the BYC leadership at today’s hearing, chaired by ATC Muhammad Ali Mubeen judge. Israr told him Dawn.com that Mahrang, Beebow Baloch and Gulzadi were present in the Court.
“Dr. Mahrang and the preventive detention of the other members of BYC were approved. They were delivered to police custody for 20 days,” he said, added that the police had requested that they be referred for 30 days.
In a publication about X, Baloch Sammi Deen Baloch criticized the extension of preventive detention and said he not only violated the fundamental principles of justice, but also illustrated a “highly dangerous judicial tendency.”
“The decision of the court … It is not simply an illegal action, but also a reflection of the bitter reality that the Judicial Power of Pakistan, particularly in Baluchistan, has been stripped of his freedom and autonomy,” he wrote.
“The actions of the court, sometimes they transfer the case to the Department of Origin, sometimes dismissing it, are indicative of constitutional, legal and moral bankruptcy.”
Sammi pointed out that the Judiciary in Baluchistan did not offer justice, which reflects a mentality of the colonial era.
“It is time for the Judiciary to recognize its constitutional role, fulfill its duty to protect civil liberties and fundamental rights, and this game of oppression is distanced,” he wrote.
The Byc is a Baloch defense group that has been working against forced disappearances since 2018.
Mahrang was arrested under MPO for a period of 30 days (first period) on March 22. Subsequently, his detention was extended for additional 30 days (second period) through a decision of the Baluchistan Interior Department in April.
After Byc leaders completed three months in June, the provincial government issued a fourth extension order, extending its imprisonment in another 15 days.
On July 8, a Quetta ATC gave Mahrang and other activists to police custody for 10 days, extending its arrest. The other activists were Gulzadi, Bebow Baloch, Sibghatullah Shahji, Ghaffar Baloch and drinking Baloch.
While the byc does not appear among organizations prohibited by the National Counter -Rican authority, Mahrang is included in its list of proscribed people.
The constitutional requests that sought the release of Mahrang and two other activists were rejected by the Superior Baluchistan Court in May.
