Quetta, June 5 (AHN) Human rights activist and chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Mahrang Baloch, has dismissed the recent allegations levelled against her, her colleagues, and the organisation by the Pakistani authorities as "baseless." She said that such a move forms part of a clear and organised effort to discredit the peaceful political struggle in Balochistan.

In a statement issued from Huda Jail in Quetta and posted on BYC’s social media platform X on Friday, Mahrang said, “These allegations are being used to create an atmosphere where political dissent is branded as a crime and demands for human rights are labelled as enmity against the state.”

Mahrang has been incarcerated at Central Jail Huda in provincial Quetta since March 2025, sparking global outrage over her continued detention, which human rights defenders allege is based on “false and politically motivated charges."

Describing the BYC as a “public, unarmed, and peaceful platform” since its inception, Mahrang said that the organisation has continued to struggle for the basic rights, justice, and human dignity of the people of Balochistan.

“Our demands are clear: enforced disappearances must end, extrajudicial arrests must cease, freedom of expression must be ensured, the rights of the Balochi people over Balochistan's resources must be recognised, and the people of Balochistan must be granted their constitutional and historical rights. Unfortunately, instead of addressing these demands, state elements are attempting to discredit the public movement through false allegations, character assassination, and propaganda,” she added.

The Baloch activist said that the allegations against them are not only aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the BYC leaders but also at targeting their peaceful struggle.

Expressing grave concern, Mahrang said that Baloch political activists and human rights defenders are being continuously harassed by Pakistani forces, while no credible evidence exists for the allegations made against them.

“After actions by armed groups in Balochistan, state institutions, in a failed attempt to hide their incompetence, fabricate a new false propaganda campaign against the BYC. Then, using the resources of the Baloch people, this propaganda is published in print and social media,” she alleged.

Mahrang called on the international human rights organisations, journalists, and advocacy groups to carefully examine the facts behind this "organised narrative” and conduct an independent review of the ground realities in Balochistan.

“We will not accept any attempt to discredit Baloch political activists, human rights workers, and the peaceful struggle of the BYC through false allegations and propaganda,” she stressed.