Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch has sharply criticised the Balochistan Chief Minister over what she called efforts to intimidate PhD scholars and members of the province’s intellectual community. In a statement posted on X, Sammi Deen Baloch alleged that the provincial government was fostering an atmosphere of fear for those raising critical voices, including journalists, writers, activists, poets, linguists, and academics. She said the remarks reportedly made by Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti reflected an alarming pattern aimed at silencing dissent in Balochistan.

“I am deeply concerned by the behaviour of Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti toward PhD scholars and the wider intellectual community of Balochistan,” she wrote. Sammi Deen Baloch stressed that questioning government policies and evaluating official performance are fundamental democratic rights protected under freedom of expression and academic freedom. She argued that scholars and researchers should not be subjected to threats or pressure for sharing opinions or presenting critical analysis.

According to the activist, attempts to suppress intellectual voices undermine democratic principles and further limit space for open debate in the province. She added that no elected representative has the right to intimidate citizens for exercising their constitutional freedoms. She also urged the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to intervene and ensure that Balochistan’s intellectual community is not silenced.

Pakistan has long faced allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. International human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly expressed concern over reports of activists, students, and political workers allegedly being detained by security agencies without due legal process.

Families of missing persons frequently organise protests seeking information about their relatives. Rights groups claim that some of the missing individuals are later found dead, while authorities continue to deny involvement. The issue has drawn international attention, with repeated calls for transparent investigations, accountability, and stronger protection of human rights in the affected areas.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@SammiBaluch.