QUETTA: Pakistani authorities strongly refuted claims by activist Mahrang Baloch in her article in The Guardian regarding solitary confinement and mistreatment in the jail.
Mahrang Baloch has been in jail since March 2025 on sedition and terrorism charges for storming Quetta hospital along with her followers to seize the bodies of terrorists killed in a counter-Jaffar Express hijacking operation.
Dr. Baloch and her supporters staged a protest and then stormed the Civil Hospital Quetta, attempting to take the bodies of militants linked to the Indian-backed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Mahrang Baloch leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), considered the political wing of the designated terrorist group BLA. Authorities say her activism often aligns with groups involved in terrorism and that she has campaigned on behalf of elements linked to armed attacks and suicide bombings in Balochistan.
Contrary to her claims, official records show Baloch appeared in court multiple times over the past year. Authorities confirm she was never held in solitary confinement.
Some Western media, including The Guardian, reported her narrative without verifying court or prison records, officials said. Authorities added that her family has not faced systematic harassment and that legal proceedings follow national regulations.
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Security agencies noted a small number of Baloch activists have been involved in violent incidents. Authorities insist the state differentiates between peaceful activists and those supporting militant operations.
Officials urged global observers to review official court documents, police reports, and prison records before accepting claims of detention abuse.
