QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has questioned the silence of human rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch over the targeted killings of Punjabi laborers in the province, carried out by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Furthermore, Bugti asked whether the activist, known for raising her voice on human rights issues in Balochistan, had ever condemned the killing of innocent laborers or demanded justice for their families.
“When Punjabi laborers are martyred at the hands of BLA terrorists, has Mahrang Baloch ever raised her voice for them? Has she organized any protest or sit-in for their rights? Has she demanded justice from the government? The answer is no,” Bugti stated.
In this regard, the chief minister’s remarks come amid renewed debate over selective activism and the ongoing security situation in Balochistan, where targeted attacks on non-local workers have continued to claim lives.
Many of these incidents, authorities say, are carried out by militant groups seeking to pressure the state through violence against vulnerable communities.
In this sense, Bugti focused on the idea that human rights advocacy must remain impartial and universal. “Human rights cannot be selective. Every innocent life lost to terrorism deserves equal attention and compassion,” he said.
The chief minister reasserted his government’s commitment to protecting all citizens residing and working in the province, regardless of their ethnicity or background.
Moreover, Mahrang Baloch, a prominent activist and leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has been at the forefront of protests demanding accountability for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial actions in the province.
However, Balochistan continues to face complex political and security challenges, and calls for an inclusive and even-handed human rights discourse are growing louder. In addition, both the government and activists are being urged to ensure that the pursuit of justice extends to every victim, without exception.
