New Delhi: Prominent Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch, who was recently featured in TIME100 Next 2024, was stopped by Pakistan authorities from flying out of the country to attend the felicitation event in New York. Pakistanis have called this action “outrageous” and criticised the state’s stance, contrasting “advocate of peace” Mahrang’s treatment with the presence of “hate preacher” Zakir Naik in the country.
Mahrang took to X to voice her concern, calling it a deliberate attempt to “silence Baloch voices from being heard internationally, control the flow of information about the situation in Balochistan, and conceal the decades-long human rights abuses occurring in Balochistan”.
In a video, the activist shared that she was “unjustly stopped” at Karachi International Airport while on her way to board her flight to New York.
“By denying me the right to travel, the Pakistani government seeks to prevent me from exercising my freedom of expression and rights to movement. This arbitrary travel ban is part of the increasing crackdown on Baloch human rights defenders and activists. I will fight back against this unjust restriction on my rights to movement,” she wrote.
Mahrang also called out the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government, saying she was offloaded without any legal justification and that her passport was confiscated by the Federal Investigative Agency.
“I was barred from boarding a flight to New York in Sindh, the home province of @BBhuttoZardari, who portrays himself as a champion of democracy and human rights. Ironically, this violation of my rights is happening right under his watch,” she wrote.
In its profile of the prominent Baloch and women’s rights activist, TIME Magazine noted: “With many men in the community either missing or deceased, women like Mahrang have stepped forward to peacefully advocate for Baloch rights. Last December, she led hundreds of women in a long march to Islamabad, demanding justice for their missing husbands, sons, and brothers.”
Local news reports suggest that her name is on the immigration stop list, prompting airport authorities to restrict her travel.
‘Cruelty and stupidity’
Human rights organisations and activists raised their voices against the arbitrary offloading, with many calling out state policies.
Human rights group Frontline Defenders condemned the act, while journalists, activists and lawyers took to social media to call out the government’s complicity.
“How outrageous! As if preventing Mahrang from traveling will stop her voice from echoing globally. Her voice is too loud and powerful to be contained within Balochistan. Pakistan continues to build its résumé of colonial repression against the Pashtun and Baloch people,” activist Gulail Ismail wrote.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also condemned the move, stressing on Mahrang’s right to travel freely and safely within and outside the country. “Dr Baloch has advocated against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, and been recognized internationally for her efforts. To prevent her from travelling overseas is a flagrant violation of her right to freedom of movement and expression,” HRCP wrote on X.
Another activist drew parallels with controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik, who is currently in Pakistan. Naik is a fugitive in India, wanted on charges of hate speech and more. “Hate preacher Zakir Naik is a State guest while advocate for peace Mahrang Baloch is harassed, threatened, detained & denied permission to travel! Pretty clear what State policy is – those who spread hatred will be protected/promoted and those who demand peace will be punished!”, activist Imaan Hazari wrote.
Pakistani politician Afrasiab Khattak also echoed similar thoughts.
“Stopping Dr. @MahrangBaloch_ from travelling abroad epitomises the authoritarian nature of the selected regime”, the politician tweeted. Pakistani lawyer and Pakistan Tekhreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Jibran Nasir called it a ‘cover-up by the State’.
Meanwhile, politician Ammar Ali Jan called the act a “combination of cruelty and stupidity that characterizes the state”.
“Needless wounds given to citizens while also tarnishing the country’s image abroad. Asma Jehangir was right when she called them duffers,” Jan further wrote.