As the Balochistan activist remains in detention, her sister has been battling silence, indifference and delays.
Islamabad: Nadia Baloch, 25, is a lawyer and sister of Mehrang Baloch, a human rights activist from Balochistan, Pakistan, who was arrested during a peaceful protest on March 22, 2025 and is still in custody, facing terrorism and treason charges.
Nadia said, “We the Baloch have dignity. We never wanted to sit on the streets of Islamabad.” “But from Last year from mid-July to SeptemberI decided to go to Islamabad and hold a sit-in to tell people how their government has treated us – how it detained my sister and silenced the voices of Baloch victims.
talking to Wire Over the phone, her voice heavy with grief, she shared that passersby were watching the protests from behind their car windows.
“At that moment, I said to myself: Enough is enough. Why am I trying to convince people who show no humanity?” He said.
Nadia ended the protest, not wishing to remain powerless in front of a government and an indifferent public towards the suffering of the Baloch. About 20 Baloch families, whose loved ones were abducted by Pakistani security agencies, joined the protest to express solidarity with Mehrang.
Nadia recalled Amma Hoor’s words: “Until Mehrang is released, I will never return to Balochistan.” Amma Hoor passed away On February 16, 2026. His son was missing for 14 years.
“We went to Islamabad for justice or at least a hearing by the government,” Nadia said. “But look, Amma Hoor, the other victims and I, all returned empty-handed.”
But Authorities arrested Mehrang Baloch on March 22, 2025Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief with activist Bibo Baloch. Other BYC members – Gulzadi Baloch, Beberg Baloch and Sibgatullah Shah, known as Shah Ji – were later detained.
‘Serious situation’
On 18 February, Mehrang’s condition deteriorated rapidly, leading prison authorities to transfer him to Sheikh Zayed Hospital for evaluation. MRI of her lumbar spine revealed disc bulges at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels, indentation of the thecal sac, bilateral neural foraminal narrowings with nerve root impingement, and an annular tear at the L4-L5 level – findings pointing to spinal disturbance and muscle spasm.
Nadia said her sister’s health had been failing for several months and repeated requests to the jail superintendent for medical care had been ignored. It was only after his protests invoking his constitutional right to medical care that the authorities agreed to take action, by which time Mehrang’s condition had become critical.
He said when Mehrang was taken to Sheikh Zayed Hospital, the facility appeared empty. Mehrang asked why the patients were removed, to which no one replied. Nadia said it appeared the authorities were intent on keeping her situation out of the public eye.
The police initially refused to release the MRI report. When they finally provided one after persistent requests, the copy did not bear the doctor’s signature. When asked, officials immediately dismissed these concerns and insisted that the information provided was sufficient.
Nadia, speaking with concern, said that despite the government doctor’s recommendation, Mehrang still has not received adequate treatment.
hope from judiciary
Nadia said her legal fight for justice has been marked by setbacks and hard lessons. He said many Baloch people now believe that justice does not exist for them in Pakistan.
Although others arrested during peaceful protests against enforced disappearances on March 22, 2025 have been released, Mehrang remains imprisoned. Nadia argued that as per the provisions of law, when co-accused are released in the same case, the survivors should also be given freedom.
“The court was expected to give its verdict in Mehrang’s case, but it postponed it for three months,” Nadia said. Wire. “It seems that even the courts are unable to follow their own rules.”
While Mehrang has got relief in some cases, she is stuck in four other cases. Nadia told that the family is now considering approaching the Pakistan Supreme Court.
He said, “We look to the Supreme Court. It should keep alive the hope that justice for the Baloch is still possible even after all legal avenues have been exhausted.”
Rallies for Iran allowed, rallies for Mehrang silenced
But March 2, 2026, Quetta Press Club Initially it was agreed to allow Nadia to hold a press conference to address the enforced disappearance and detention of Mehrang. However, the permission was later withdrawn, claiming that issues related to missing persons and Mehrang could not be discussed.
Nevertheless he started the press conference. The police soon intervened to stop him.
A reporter encouraged him by saying, “AAP conference Carry on, all of us journalists Yours conference record are doing (Please continue your press conference, we are all journalists recording.)”
Nadia commented that she felt as if she couldn’t even stand her ground, not being allowed to speak. Protests supporting the Iranian government were allowed, but a press conference drawing attention to the plight and disappearance of the Baloch people was not allowed.
She felt helpless – once standing in solidarity with other Baloch victims, Nadia now finds herself doing the same.
“It breaks you,” she said. “Now Amma [my mother] Doesn’t even ask what happened? She already knows – I have returned empty handed.
This article went live on March 19, 2026, at 1:55 pm.
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