Baloch activist Mehrang Baloch criticizes Pakistani government for including his/her name in anti-terrorism watch list

Prominent human rights activist and leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Mehrang Baloch, expressed serious concern over his/her inclusion along with fellow activists including Sibgatullah Shahji in Pakistan’s Fourth Schedule – a government anti-terrorism watch list managed by the National Counterterrorism Authority.

Taking to social media platform X on Sunday, Baloch criticized the actions of the military-backed government, calling it a blatant attempt to suppress peaceful activism in the country.

he/she said his/her inclusion along with Sibgatullah Shahji and other activists in Pakistan’s Fourth Schedule highlights how the country misuses its anti-terrorism laws against critics who make “hollow” claims of Pakistan being a democracy. exposes.

Baloch argued that such measures not only aim to intimidate rights defenders, but also violate fundamental freedoms of expression and association. Despite repressive tactics, Baloch reaffirmed his/her unwavering commitment to peaceful activism.

The inclusion of my name, Sibgatullah Shah Ji, and other peaceful rights activists in Pakistan’s Fourth Schedule – the anti-terrorism watch list by the National Anti-Terrorism Authority – is the latest attempt by the military-backed government to suppress peaceful activism,” she said.

“This blatant misuse of anti-terrorism laws, including the Fourth Schedule, against me and other peaceful critics exposes Pakistan’s hollow claims of being a democracy. These laws have repeatedly been weaponized to intimidate and silence rights defenders, in violation of our fundamental freedoms of expression and association. However, these repressive strategies will not stop us,” she said.

Baloch called on international organizations as well as human rights organizations to condemn these actions, and urged them to hold the Pakistan government accountable for flouting its anti-terrorism laws.

“The international community and human rights organizations must condemn these actions and hold the Pakistani government accountable for its misuse of anti-terrorism laws. Our commitment to peaceful activism remains steadfast; These illegal measures will neither weaken our movement nor stop us,” he/she said in X.

The Baloch Yakzehti Committee also slammed X, saying that the counter-terrorism watch list by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority was “a tool of repression against peaceful political activists”.

The committee accused Pakistan of “using anti-terrorism laws against political activists in Balochistan without providing any concrete evidence” and said it had “blatantly conflated peaceful civil and political activism with terrorism.”

It further said that global organizations like the United Nations Human Rights Council and Amnesty International had also expressed concern over anti-terrorism laws against political activists and demanded the Pakistani government to remove their names from such lists.

The Baloch people have long accused the Pakistani government of neglecting their region, which is rich in resources but plagued by poverty and violence.

Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) is a political and social organization based in Balochistan. It was formed to advocate for the rights of the Baloch people and promote unity among various Baloch nationalist groups. The committee focuses on issues such as political autonomy, cultural preservation and social justice for the Baloch community.