Mahrang Baloch, a senior organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has filed an appeal in the Pakistan Supreme Court against the rejection of her bail plea following her arrest, as reported by The Balochistan Post (TBP). The petition has been submitted through her lawyer, Jibran Nasir. This move follows the Balochistan High Court’s decision on 23 February to deny her bail. The case originates from an FIR registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station in Quetta on 6 January 2026, based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Asghar Ali.

The FIR states that Baloch was placed on Pakistan’s Fourth Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, a surveillance list for individuals considered security risks. Authorities allege she failed to meet required attendance conditions and continued participating in protests and public gatherings. It also claims she supported the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), although these allegations have not been independently confirmed. Baloch and her supporters have previously rejected similar accusations, according to TBP.

She has been charged under Sections 11-EE and 11-F(1)(2) of the ATA, which deal with involvement in or support for banned organisations. Baloch was first detained on 22 March 2025 under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law for 30 days, with her custody later extended twice for similar durations. She was subsequently arrested again on 21 August 2025 in a separate case while already in custody.

She had also challenged her MPO detention in court, but the Balochistan High Court upheld it in a ruling dated 22 May. Widely known for her activism in Balochistan, Mahrang Baloch has led campaigns highlighting enforced disappearances, detentions, and civil rights issues. Her ongoing legal case has drawn significant attention from rights groups and observers, who view it as an important test of civil liberties and dissent in Pakistan, as noted by TBP.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X@MahrangBaloch_.