In a candid and harrowing conversation with broadcast journalist Mehdi Hasan, Mahrang Baloch—a prominent human rights defender and advocate for the Baloch National cause—bared the extent of oppression faced by Baloch individuals under state authorities in Pakistan. The conversation underscored not only her personal risks but also the systemic silencing of a marginalizedethnic group.
“Because I represent a cause—the Baloch National cause—they prevented me from reaching New York,”
she revealed. Her journey was not merely about personal gain but a mission to bring global attention to what she terms
“war crimes in Balochistan.”
The Mahrung Baloch
She accused Pakistan’s military establishment of routine abductions and extrajudicial killings, a grim reality that, according to her, extends beyond Balochistan into Punjab.
“Just last night,”
she stated,
“three Baloch students were abducted from their hostels in Lahore.”
Such incidents, she elaborated, have become a “norm” for Balochs, people who frequently receive mutilated bodies of their loved ones in place of justice or answers.
The personal toll of her activism is one Baloch does not downplay. Reflecting on her constant vulnerability, she admitted,
“That makes me very depressed… We leave our homes, see our mothers, and tell them we don’t know if we will return.”
Mahrang Baloch
This vulnerability isn’t unique to her but a shared plight among those who dare speak against state atrocities.
Her statement,
“I know at a point in my life, I will get killed,”
reverberates with a chilling inevitability that encapsulates the plight of the Baloch people. For a region fraught with resource exploitation, ethnic discrimination, and lack of autonomy, Mahrang’s life and voice symbolize the existential threat to dissent.
Systemic Repression or National Stability?
Mahrang Baloch’s statement has put a stark spotlight on the balance—or lack thereof—between security measures and human rights in Pakistan. The state’s narrative often hinges on maintaining stability and countering separatist movements in Balochistan. However, critics argue these policies come at the cost of fundamental freedoms, creating a cycle of repression that alienates communities further.
Balochistan, rich in natural resources yet underdeveloped, has long harbored sentiments of disenfranchisement. The voices like Mahrang’s amplify the human cost of unchecked militarization—lives lost, families torn apart, and an unshaken fear that resonates through generations.
“I Know at a Point in My Life, I Will Get Killed” -Mahrang Baloch
Global Implications
As Mahrang highlighted, international platforms and scrutiny are critical in addressing these injustices. Her inability to present her case in New York reflects not just on her personal struggles but also on the broader international indifference to localized oppression. While global institutions champion human rights on paper, the lack of actionable mechanisms leaves advocates like Mahrang exposed and unsupported.
