The role of women in Baloch politics is not new; however, the way Baloch women are now standing at the frontlines of politics is not only remarkable and inspiring for the Baloch people but also for Pakistan and the entire region.
By DUR BIBI
Groundxero | April 6, 2025
The Balochistan region is split among three countries: Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Administratively it comprises the Pakistani province of Balochistan, the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan, and the southern areas of Afghanistan, which include Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar Provinces. It borders the Pashtunistan region to the north, Sindh and Punjab to the east, and Persian regions to the west. Its southern coastline, including the Makran Coast, is washed by the Arabian Sea, in particular by its western part, the Gulf of Oman.1
Balochistan since the day it merged with Pakistan is facing problems. Insurgency in Balochistan was always evident. Militants in Balochistan province have fought for their rights in 1948, 1958–59, 1962–63 and 1973–1977, with a new ongoing insurgency beginning in 2000.2
Political scientist Salman Rafi Sheikh, in locating the origins of the insurgency in Balochistan, says “that Balochistan’s accession to Pakistan was, as against the officially projected narrative, not based upon consensus, nor was support for Pakistan overwhelming. What this manipulation indicates is that even before formally becoming a part of Pakistan, Balochistan had fallen prey to political victimisation.”3
Balochistan has been embroiled since the early 2000s in an insurgency that started because of the Baloch community’s long-standing political disenfranchisement and socioeconomic grievances with the Pakistani government. But due to continued inaction by the government, rising human rights violations and the killings of prominent Baloch leaders, it turned into a secessionist movement.4 With the armed conflict as the backdrop, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings have also risen in the past two decades as, activists and journalists say, people were detained because of “suspicion” or “false information.” Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, a nonprofit organisation representing family members of those who have disappeared, estimates that 7,000 cases have been registered with it in the past two decades.5 The Baloch missing persons issue increased the involvement of Baloch women into politics and human rights activism also increased.
The role of women in Baloch politics is not new; however, the way Baloch women are now standing at the frontlines of politics is not only remarkable and inspiring for the Baloch people but also for Pakistan and the entire region. Baloch women did not consciously chose politics, politics chose Baloch women, and in Baloch society the circumstances and situation around makes Baloch women politically conscious. And if we look beyond the narrow scope of politics as merely advocating for one’s rights, we see that preserving identity has always been central – from sewing traditional Balochi clothes and embroidering them to protecting their political husbands or sons during times of conflict. The Baloch cultural dress serves as more than mere attire; it is a potent symbol of ethnic pride, resistance, and identity. This article examines how traditional Baloch attire represents the community’s socio-political history, cultural values, and national identity. By analysing the design, symbolism, and contemporary significance of the dress, this study connects material culture to broader themes of ethnic identity, political assertion, and cultural preservation.6
Baloch Women in Resistance: A Historical Perspective
Balochi folklore is rich with tales of heroic women, such as Bibi Banari Shehak, the sister of Mir Chakar Khan Rind. She is celebrated in Baloch history for her bravery during the 1539 Battle of Chausa, where she reportedly stood against Sher Shah Suri. Her spirit of standing against Sher Shah Suri, lifted the morals of Mir Chakar Rind’s army. This episode is immortalized in the Balochi epic poetry:
Jumps Bandai, the daughter of Shellac
Raising her hands adorned with bangles
And she struck them against her thighs
Smashing her nine lined-bangles.7
In modern history, during Pakistan’s “One Unit” policy (1955–1969) and subsequent political turmoil, Baloch women played pivotal roles. During Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s 1973 military operation in Balochistan, women such as Bibi Gahnwari Mari not only physically resisted the Pakistani forces by blocking their paths but also nursed wounded resistance fighters. When male family members were imprisoned, Mari women emerged as protectors and caretakers of their homes and communities.
Our elders tell us Bibi Gahnwari used to tend wounded Marri Baloch and provide ration to the men who had taken to mountains to defend their villages, livestock and families against Pakistani army’s aggression. After the state forces arrested the Baloch rebels, four sons and many relatives of Bibi Gahnwari Mari’s were among them. At those difficult times, she acted as the guardian of the house and looked after her family and others.8
Culture and Politics: Women as Custodians of Tradition and Change
Baloch women have preserved their history and struggles through cultural expressions such as embroidery, songs, and oral storytelling. Traditional mourning songs, called “Zahirook”, are sung during funerals, often led by women.
In 2013, Baloch National Movements (BNM)’s Imdad Baloch along with Baloch Students Organisation Azad’s Reza Jahangir was killed by state forces. During the funeral of Reza Jahangir, his mother sang a Zahirook.9 It’s a norm in Balochistan that if someone’s son is killed during war their mother or female family members will sing Zahirook and depart him.
A Baloch Sect
Zikri is one of the oldest sects in Balochistan. The word “ Zikiri” refers to those who are following this particular sect. Zikri follows the teaching of Imam Mehdi. Part of their religion consists of praying while sitting down on the floor at night and praising God. They follow this belief system from their ancestors.
In the Zikri tradition, women like Bibi Duri Baloch led spiritual gatherings called “Chogan”, highlighting their leadership in cultural and religious practices. Bibi Duri Baloch, who is in her 50s, (now deceased) comes to “Koh-e-Murad”, a specific place for the Zikri Community in Turbat, every year on the night of the 27th of Ramazan. At night, she stands in the middle of a circle called Choghan in the local Balochi language, and around 300 Zikri Baloch stand around her. She sings melodiously, praising Allah, the Prophet Muhammad and the saints.10 She also sings of the departed souls, and for the martyrs, praying for their forgiveness in the Balochi and Persian languages. She also pray for the enforced disappeared people, pray against the oppressor, and for the oppressed, and for their safely return. All who are standing around in a circle repeat loudly after her. As she finishes, another woman called Bibi Jammali Baloch, who is about the same age, takes her place. It continues for the whole night.
After the death of Bibi Duri, today her descendants carry on this legacy, combining spiritual and communal leadership.
Changing State Policies and Baloch Women
In 2005, a conflict erupted in the province of Balochistan.11 The uprising was triggered by the rape of a female doctor, Shazia Khalid, in the small Baloch town of Sui. A military man allegedly perpetrated the rape, but the culprit was never arrested. The military establishment’s alleged effort to cover up the incident triggered a series of attacks against the Defense Security Guards and the Frontier Constabulary by members of the Bugti tribe that hails from Balochistan.12 At that time, Pakistani authorities presented the conflict as the creation of greedy sardars.13
But even years later, the conflict continues.14 Military Operations were stopped, but across the province, people have been abducted, killed, and their bodies abandoned — acts widely referred to as “kill and dump” operations.15 From 2008 onwards, thousands of people, political activists, Human Right activists, Professors, Doctors, Lawyers, were abducted and a lot of them were killed.
The Pakistani press as well as international and Pakistani non-governmental organisations have documented a number of cases relatively well. According to Human Rights Watch, which concurs on this point with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, there seems to be little doubt about the fact that most of these disappearances have been perpetrated by Pakistan’s “intelligence agencies and the Frontier Corps, often acting in conjunction with the local local police.”16
In 2007, a few activist women, who saw no option except to come out against the state repression formed a “Baloch Women Panel”, and conducted a press conference in Karachi. Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club, on 29th of July 2007, BWP members Hani Baloch and Shakar Bibi said the government’s oppression against the Baloch people had forced the women to come out on the streets17 and they announced token hunger strike from July 30 till August 14, 2007 for the recovery of missing missing people.
The First Baloch Long March
Baloch, influenced by Chairman Mao, who marched for six thousand miles, also found their remedy in the same path. In 2014, more than 2,150 km away, they began their journey on foot from Quetta to Karachi and then from Karachi to Islamabad.18
This Long March arranged by Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP)19 included Sammi Deen, (who is Front Line Defender Award winner and one of the leadership of BYC), Farzana Majeed, and Baloch women and children from nearly 20 families, along with the elderly Mama Qadeer. The world witnessed the blistered feet, torn shoes, and the worst conditions of these marchers. The federal government, to which they had hoped to show their pain and blisters, turned away from them. The Baloch returned back to their cities.
The federal government may not have seen these grieving mothers, sisters, and children, but the Baloch nation surely did. As the caravan passed through various Baloch areas, many men, women, and children welcomed them, providing food and other essential items. This Long March became a form of political training.
Modern Baloch Women Leaders, Pioneers in Political Activism — Karima Baloch: A Beacon of Resistance
Karima Baloch, a trailblazing political activist, emerged as the first female Chairperson of the Baloch Students Organization-Azad (BSO-Azad). She was listed by the BBC in its 100 most inspirational and influential women of 2016 for her work in human human rights.20
Coming from a remote area with limited access to modern amenities, Karima broke barriers by organising political circles in Balochistan remote regions like Awaran, Mashkay, and Gresha and took her hold in big cities like Karachi, Quetta and Turbat.
Her first public exposure as an activist was in 2005, in Balochistan’s Turbat area, where she attended a protest over missing persons carrying the picture of one of her missing relatives.21 She joined the Baloch Students Organisation (Azad) in 2006, serving in several different positions in the following years.
The group was officially banned by the government in 2013, but its existence continued and Karima became it’s chairperson in 2015.22 Karima was the first woman to become a Chairperson of BSO (Azad). In Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, Karima was seen as a dangerous political actor and a threat to the nation’s security. Meanwhile, a thousand kilometers southwest, deep inside Balochistan, she’s a hero and a beacon of hope.23
In an interview with Laura Secorun Palet in 2014, Karima said, “Ten years ago, the situation was completely different. When we [women] first came out into the streets for demonstrations, it looked odd to many, but now every family is proud of their females who are active in the nationalist movement.”24
She emphasised humility, advising activists to wear modest clothing in war- torn areas to avoid alienating struggling communities. Despite threats, Karima continued her activism until she was forced into exile in Canada, where she continued her fight for Baloch rights until her tragic death.
BHRO and Bibi Gul
Baloch Human Rights Organisation was founded in February 2014. Bibi Gul Baloch is one of the founding members and also first chairperson of Baloch Human Rights Organisation (BHRO). BHRO was dedicated to highlighting human rights violations in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture by Pakistani state forces. Bibi Gul Baloch has been a vocal advocate for the rights of the Baloch people, demanding international attention and action to address these abuses. BHRO has collaborated with the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), an organisation that has led long marches and protests to demand justice for the missing Baloch persons. Bibi Gul Baloch has expressed solidarity with VBMP’s efforts and emphasised the need for joint action to address the human rights crisis in Balochistan.
Bibi took part in the famous Quetta-Islamabad long march by the family members of missing persons in 2013.25 Bibi’s activism came under threat when the forces started to threaten Bibi by different means and forms. Her house in Balochistan was raided several times and her father was under threats. Bibi Gul’s sister-in-law, Mahal Baloch, is a prominent Baloch activist who was arbitrarily detained by Pakistani security forces in 2021. Mahal’s case drew international attention, with Amnesty International and other human rights organisations calling for her release.26
The BHRO and Human Rights Council of Balochistan — two Balochistan-based human rights groups — announced their merger in February 2020. “Bibi Gul, who previously served as BHRO’s Chairperson, will lead the temporary cabinet,”27 they stated.
The Women behind Camps
In 2014, after the enforced disappearance of BSO-Azad Chairman Zahid Baloch, the BSO Azad announced a Hunger Strike camp till death, in front of Karachi Press Club. The BSO Azad’s central committee member Latif Johar was observing the Hunger Strike Till Death.28 He was accompanied by both young men and women, and elderly women too.29 Here, Karima Baloch led the campaign for the missing Chairman Zahid. And also women like Karima’s mother played central roles in sustaining the camp, showing the indomitable spirit of Baloch women. Young girls, from college, universities were active in the camp. Young girls like Bramsh Baloch, were also busy at the camp distributing press statements and taking videos and pictures for the media. Her eyes are yellow with malnutrition, as are Latif’s, and she looks frail. But she has collected all her strength for the cause.30 These camps became hubs of political discourse and activism, attracting people from various backgrounds.
Missing Shabir Baloch: From Silence to Strength
Shabir Ahmad Baloch, a 22 years old student, HR activist, spokesperson and central information secretary of Baloch Students Organization (Azad) is abducted by Pakistan’s security forces in Balochistan on 4th October 2016.
He is still missing. His abduction has not been made public and his family is kept unaware of his whereabouts.31 Shabir’s sister Seema Baloch stood firm against the enforced disappearance of her brother and protested/ing everywhere, where she’s see a small hope that she will be heard. Seema was pregnant when she first joined rallies to campaign for the release of her brother Shabir. Her son Meeras, five, and three-year-old daughter, Shari, have grown up in protest camps.32
Holding a photo of her uncle, Shari joined in chants of “missing persons ko, baziab karo”, meaning “release all”, says Seema.
“It was the first sentence Shari learned. Even at home, she starts chanting slogans. This breaks my heart, as I never wanted her to grow up like this.”33
After the 2016 enforced disappearance of her brother, Shabbir Baloch, Seema transitioned from a timid young woman to a fierce advocate for justice. Over the years, she has led protests, marched into high-security zones, and become a prominent face in the struggle for the missing persons.
Shifting State Policies and Women’s Activism
The “kill-and-dump” policy initiated in 2009 intensified the Baloch struggle, leading to a new wave of women-led protests. Women like Farzana Majeed, sister of missing Zakir Majeed, and Sammi Deen, daughter of Missing Dr Deen Muhamad Baloch, took to the streets, spearheading peaceful demonstrations. Following them families, sisters, wives, mothers of missing people joined protests, even started demonstrations against the enforced disappearances by security forces.
After being harassed multiple times by the state, Zakir Majeed’s sister, Farzana, moved to the United States, but Zakir’s mother, carrying her son’s picture, continued to march on the streets.
If you want to see the grief and anger of a Baloch woman, look into Zakir Majeed’s mother’s eyes. Hard as stone, her eyes and trembling voice tell the story. With Zakir’s picture in one hand and the picture of former BSO (Azad) Chairman Zahid in the other, she could be seen in Quetta, Karachi, or Islamabad.
Along with Zakir’s mother, Saeed Baloch’s mother, whose son was in the police force and became a victim of enforced disappearance, and Rashid Hussain, whose case made headlines when he was brought from Dubai to Pakistan but then disappeared, are also seen on the streets protesting.
Rashid’s mother and his niece, Mahzeb, who is a school student, can be seen raising their voices in the streets.34
These mothers, sisters, and daughters were once just relatives of the missing persons, but now they have become a movement in themselves.
BWP To BWF
The Baloch Women Panel (BWP) was established in 2008 to advocate for human rights issues. Later, in 2022, the Baloch Women Forum (BWF) emerged as a women’s rights organization under the leadership of Zeen Gul, a school teacher from Punjgur. The BWF expanded its focus to include both women’s rights and human rights in Balochistan, establishing a presence throughout Balochistan as well as Karachi.
In 2023, Dr. Shali Baloch assumed a leadership role within the BWF, supported by a cabinet including Sultana, Hani, and others. Dr. Shali serves as the Organizer, while Sultana is the Deputy Organizer.
The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) actively highlights the plight of women facing systemic violence and neglect in the region. It advocates for justice and awareness on critical issues such as honor killings, the alarming rise in cases of women cancer in Dera Ghazi Khan, and incidents of sexual abuse. Additionally, the BWF strongly opposes military operations and state-led violence in Balochistan, which disproportionately impact women and children. Through protests, awareness campaigns, and community mobilization, the organization strives to empower women and demand accountability for human rights violations.
Baloch Students Politics and Baloch Women
When Karima Baloch, the first women chairperson of the BSO (Azad) came out of the house and decided to be active in politics, it was one of the boldest decisions she had made, because at that time (2008) there were only a few women in Baloch politics.
Balochistan is a highly conservative, tribal and patriarchal region, where women have restricted rights. However with the recent rise in enforced disappearances of Baloch men, it is the Baloch women who are filling the void created in the province’s political scene, including leading protests against enforced disappearances.35
In a region where women are confined to their homes, going out being active in politics is such an act is nothing less than a rebellion, especially growing in a tribal society and joining the students’ politics and then becoming one of the leaders in BYC, is a terrible example of bravery which Sabiha Baloch set.
Sabiha’s fierce struggle and journey as a Baloch woman and a leader began during her school days. After completing her intermediate studies (FSc) at the academy, she moved to Quetta, where she excelled in the Bolan Medical College entrance exam, securing third place. In 2016, she became actively involved in Baloch student politics. By 2018, Dr. Sabiha had ascended to the role of Vice Chairperson of the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC), an organization focused on organizing, unifying, and politicizing Baloch students across Pakistan in their fight for rights. Her activism soon attracted attention. In 2019, after publishing an article titled, “Direct the Protest, Sir” on the University of Balochistan (UoB) scandal, she received her first direct threat.36 In her piece, she claimed that the issue of sexual harassment on campus was not isolated but rather a symptom of deeper structural oppression in a colonised society, implicating military personnel. “They have installed surveillance cameras in the university,”37 She accused the administration.
Despite these threats and intense pressure, she remained steadfast,and in 2021, she rose to the position of Chairperson of BSAC. With this role, she became the second Baloch woman to lead a student political organization, following in the footsteps of Banuk Karima Baloch.38
Continuing with threats, her brother was forcibly disappeared on 18 June 2021, from his hostel room at Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology (BUETK) in Khuzdar. While her brother was detained for five months, Sabiha faced constant pressure to resign from student politics and end her activism. But she held firm. “If I gave in and resigned,” she explained, “it would set a trend of blackmail that would haunt the young women following in this struggle against injustice.” 39
Following these events, Dr. Sabiha remained silent and worked behind the scenes with BSAC, avoiding media appearances. In 2023, after her tenure with BSAC ended, she actively participated in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). “I wanted to do a lot for the people around me, and the solution to all their problems was linked to politics. I did not choose politics; politics chose me so that I could try to address the issues of my people,” she underscores.40
In June 2024, just a month before the Baloch Raaji Muchi (Baloch National Gathering), she was beaten and arrested during a protest in Quetta demanding the safe release of a forcibly disappeared person. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Quetta warned her that she had now come “into their hands,” stating: “We have been searching for you since your protest in Turbat.”41
During the Baloch Raaji Muchi, both her father and brother were charged with fake FIRs, and her house in Zawa was raided. Despite these attempts to intimidate her, she continued her activism and later faced accusations of blasphemy for remarks made during her speech on 12 August 2024, in Quetta, where she acknowledged the significant sacrifices made by the Baloch people. “These accounts that were active against me were state- sponsored; they spread hatred towards peaceful activists to deter our struggle,” she stated.42
Despite moments of vulnerability, Dr. Sabiha feels driven to act. “Though I feel weak at times, I have no other option. I cannot remain silent. I understand that even by doing nothing, I will have to endure; so, at the very least, I will endure through action.”43
Sabiha also writes poetry and she wrote a chant during Long March, and she chanted this slogan at Shawani Stadium in Quetta, where BYC held a jalsa. The resolve of our mothers and sisters (Lumma Eed Taa Juhd Pahek), Thousands of Baloch men and women echoed: “Ours will be the glory, the glory will be ours (Soub Nana ea, Soub Nana ea).”44 her chant is as famous as Sabiha herself in Baloch nation.
Fouzia, a prominent face in Baloch politics in Karachi who is standing against every state repression. Fouzia was active in student politics and to threaten her, her brother was abducted by state forces in 2022, according to her the forces have told her not to make voice against this abduction, or her brother will be killed. She knew that if she didn’t take the roads, she would be more threatened. She demonstrated in Karachi, went to courts, police and took every possible step for the safe release of her brother.
Now Fouzia is BYC (Karachi chapter’s) organiser.
VBMP always stood firm when it came to enforced disappearances. VBMP records data on enforced disappearances;45 releases press statement; organises protests, rallies, and hunger strike camps;46 and facilitates the submission of first information reports and cases to Pakistani police stations and courts.47 Its Chairperson is Nasrullah Baloch and its Vice Chairperson is Mama Qadeer Baloch,48 while its General Secretary is/was Sammi Deen Baloch.
Sammi Deen Muhammad is a Baloch women human rights defender.49 In June 2009, at the age of 10, Sammi’s father, Dr Deen Mohammed Baloch, was forcibly disappeared in Khuzdar, Balochistan. She began persistently campaigning for the release of her father, which further lead to her deeper, collective involvement in advocating against enforced disappearances in Balochistan by state forces.50 While she was in school, she stood with her mother and younger sister Mehlab, leading protests for the missing persons. Now a university student, her question has changed. Initially, it was, “Where is my father?” But now, her question is, “Where are all the missing persons, including my father, and where are their graves?”
The state not only burned down her ancestral home in the region of Mashkay but also repeatedly targeted her house in Karachi, attempting to intimidate her. However, instead of succumbing to fear, Sammi chose to face these challenges with courage.
In 2016, Sammi herself was forcibly disappeared by Pakistan’s intelligence agency and held in captivity for seven days, she said. She had no idea where she was, and could not tell night from day.51
“While talking to me they were saying that as you know you are 18 years old, you are young, so you know what can happen to you. By saying these things they wanted to make being a woman a weakness,” she said, adding that the threat of sexual violence was implicit.52
Sammi Baloch has been honored with the Asia Pacific Human Rights Award for 2024, presented by Front Line Defenders.53 On September 8, 2024, Sammi was barred from leaving the country while she was about to travel from Pakistan to Oman. She was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by authorities.54 According to Sammi, no specific reason was provided for the travel restriction, and is believed that she was stopped due to her human rights activism in Balochistan.55
CNN, on 1st of December 2024, also recognised Sammi as one of the “Women of South Asia who are playing key roles in protests across South Asia.56
Hooran Baloch is a woman human rights defender and the Research Coordinator of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP).57 Hooran has been active in politics since 2012. She said that she joined politics because; “Our brothers are abducted, killed and dumped on daily basis; there are human rights violations, tyranny, brutality everywhere in Balochistan and this is the worst shape of salvation that I couldn’t tolerate and thus, stepped into the dangerous valley of politics.”58
Hooran has faced state atrocities thousands of times but never stepped back. Her house was raided several times, she was harassed and threatened by security forces, and have faced reprisals for their work, and are themselves at serious risk of legal and extra-legal violence.59
Bebo Baloch, a prominent figure in Quetta, played a significant role in the Baloch Long March, a protest movement against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan.60 Bebo like hundreds of other Baloch women is courageous. She also faced threats by state forces and her father’s name was included in the fourth schedule just to threaten her to stop activism, but she always clarified her stance that this is against state repression and atrocities, and I will not back off.
Baloch Woman’s Challenge to State Oppression
In 2020, when a death squad entered a house in the Dannok area of Turbat with the intention of theft, a woman named Malik Naz stood up in resistance against them. The death squad shot and killed her, and her two years old Brash was also injured. 61 Her act of defiance became a story of resistance that spread throughout Balochistan and Karachi.
Malik Naz’s story of resistance ignited across all Baloch areas, reaching Karachi, Turbat, Panjgur, Quetta, and Koh Suleiman. The Bramsh Yakjehti Committee 62, which started in Karachi, gained significant momentum across Balochistan. Protests were held across Karachi and Balochistan, with thousands of participants, among whom a large number were Baloch women.
Before the story of Malik Naz could even fade, another tragic event occurred. Hayat Baloch, a student from Karachi University, who had gone to his native village, Absar, in Turbat for vacation. He was killed on 13 August 2020 by a serviceman of Frontier Corps (FC), a paramilitary force in Pakistan, in Absar, Turbat. 63
The authorities tried to dismiss it as a mistake, but the Baloch could not be deceived. This incident sparked the beginning of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). The Bramsh Yakjehti Committee evolved into the Baloch Yakjehti Committee,64 with Amna Baloch leading in Karachi 65 and Mah Rang taking charge in Balochistan.
Since Amna had already been active in supporting the rights of the Baloch, she was selected by the Baloch community in Karachi to lead BYC. Alongwith Sammi Deen Muhammad, she formed a team to start political activities on the BYC platform in Karachi. The BYC team in Karachi organised protests, responded to the flooding situation in Balochistan and Sindh66, and coordinated the movement for cancer patients who had come from Balochistan for treatment. They spent four years managing these efforts.
During this time, Amna faced harassment calls and various tactics from the state to intimidate her. However, courage always triumphed over fear, and Amna prioritised bravery over the threats she faced.
Since 2009, Mahrang has been seen questioning the enforced disappearance of her father on the streets of Karachi and Quetta.67 In 2017, when her brother was abducted by state intelligence agencies and forces, Mahrang once again showed immense courage and began challenging state policies.68
In 2020, following the incidents involving Malik Naz and Hayat, the Baloch Youth Committee (BYC) in Balochistan, led by Mahrang, along with Sabiha, Sadia, and several other women and men, initiated political activities to claim their basic rights.
From advocating against enforced disappearances to protesting the lack of access to online university classes and the unavailability of the internet in Balochistan, Dr. Mahrang, Dr. Sabiha, and other women remained active in these efforts. However, in 2023, an incident occurred that shook Balochistan and Karachi to their core.
On November 23, 2023, protests erupted against the custodial killing of 24- year-old Balach Mola Bakhsh from Turbat, who had been forcibly disappeared from his home on October 29. The Counter-Terrorism Police had presented Balach in court in his hometown of Turbat on November 21, only to kill him in the night between November 22 and 23.69
People feared that if protests were not held now, all the missing persons would be killed one by one, which led the public to take to the streets. People said that instead of providing justice and holding the officers involved accountable, the government was cracking down on the protesters and those supporting the families of the disappeared. The leadership of the Baloch Youth Committee (BYC) united the people and organised a march from Turbat, Kech, towards Islamabad.70
On December 22, 2023, when the participants reached Islamabad, the whole world saw what had happened to them. Police baton-charged many women and children, used water cannons, and arrested 290 protesters. Later, the authorities attempted to deport them back to Balochistan. This was the state’s response to the peaceful protest.71
During this time, the then caretaker Prime Minister, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, suggested in a press conference that anyone providing moral or financial support to the Baloch protesters in Islamabad should join Baloch militants and that the families of the disappeared should be labeled as supporters of terrorists. This was an extremely painful and embarrassing act for the government.
After Islamabad, a grand reception awaited all the women and families in Quetta, and this marked a turning point in the peaceful resistance led by the BYC. Thousands turned out to greet Mahrang and the long march participants in Quetta.72 In Quetta, the BYC leadership announced a public gathering, a Jalsa, which was attended by people from all over Balochistan and Karachi. The number of women at this gathering was remarkable. The Jalsa started with the Baloch national anthem, for which thousands of Baloch people from across Balochistan travelled to Shaal, ensuring their presence and support for the Baloch movement, which, they said will continue until the state ends its genocidal policies in Balochistan.73
It was announced that the BYC would organise gatherings in different areas. In May 2024, the BYC declared that they would hold their first national gathering (Raaji Muchi) in Gwadar. The BYC team and the people of Balochistan became engaged in organising the event as July 28 approached.
The state’s armed forces seemed inexplicably fearful of these women and children. They blocked all their routes and not only did they block the roads, but they also resorted to direct firing, tear gas shelling, baton charging, and every possible act of violence, injuring and killing people—actions that Baloch women and men absolutely did not deserve. The complete suspension of telecommunication and internet access by blocking all the roads to Gwadar,74 the state thought that perhaps the Raaji Muchii would not take place. However, Mahrang had made a promise, and the Baloch are known for keeping their word. On July 28, the Raaji Muchii did take place, with a large number of women, children, and men participating. While the state had blocked every route to Gwadar, the people from Gwadar, Jiwani, Sur, and all the surrounding areas still participated. The state’s fear-driven tactics had completely failed.
It is often said, “Do not instill so much fear that fear itself becomes the cause of disaster,” and that is exactly what happened with Pakistan. The Baloch have witnessed mutilated bodies, mass graves, and the horror of forced disappearances as part of their daily lives. What more could those eyes, which had seen so much, be afraid of now?
In October 2024, Time (magazine) named Mahrang as one of the 100 emerging influential leaders of the year, recognising extra ordinary courage in opposing state oppression and her relentless advocacy against enforced disappearances and human rights violations in Balochistan.75
Maham Baloch, 26, who attended the meeting, told the Guardian: “I am a Baloch, but it was the first time I saw and heard the family members of the missing persons; it just broke my heart. Mahrang has completely won our minds and hearts, and it is because of her that today I found out how Baloch are treated in their own country.”
Referring to the teargas shelling and baton-charging at the gathering, she adds: “They did not even spare the women, the elderly or the small kids accompanying their parents.”76
The leadership of the Baloch Youth Committee (BYC), particularly Mahrang, Sabiha, Seema, Saira,and the young Mahzeb, were honoured by the women of Awaran, who despite the military’s objections, walked five kilometers on foot to the road to greet the leadership of BYC passing through their area.
This movement has greatly mobilised women. The leadership of BYC has inspired many men and women through their relentless struggle for justice.The women have inspired other women.
Journalist Kiyya Baloch tweeted, “The new Baloch generation born during the wars and conflicts of the 2000s is very powerful, especially the women. Their non-violent movement for justice, equality, and human rights has gained more global attention.”
State suppression after Raj Machi
Sadia Baloch, member of BYC, faced suppression by state forces, her house was raided and her father was threatened to stop your girl or he will face the consequences. She said in her X account that, “Punjab University, Lahore, has issued my suspension orders, alleging that I, as a so-called miscreant student, have used the university platform to corrupt students’ minds against state institutions and that my conduct has severely damaged the reputation and integrity of the educational institution. It is worth noting that this notice refers to a protest held two months ago and is dated June 14.
However, I only received this letter on August 12, 2024, when I went to check for it. I had not been issued a charge sheet before this, making it clear that the notice was issued after BYC’s Raaji Muchi’s participation, with backdated timestamps.”She also highlighted that, as a female Baloch student, the derogatory language used against her raises questions about the institution’s claimed discipline and values.77
Along with Sadia, a lot of men and women have faced state suppression; Mahrang and Sammy were barred from traveling internationally. Mahrang was barred from traveling to New York City for a Time event and faced harassment at the airport. While returning home with Sammi Baloch, she was further harassed by FIA officials, and plainclothes officers confiscated her passport and mobile phone, attempting to abduct them. According to her lawyer, it was discovered that the Government of Pakistan had quietly added her to the Pakistan National Identity List (PNIL), a registry for individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities such as terrorism, money laundering, and fraud – just days after she appeared on Time’s influential list on 3 October. 78 Mahrang is charged with many FIRs. “FIRs aim to intimidate those involved in their collective struggle.” Mahrang said.79
On September 8, 2024, Sammi was barred from leaving the country while she was about to travel from Pakistan to Oman. She was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) by authorities. According to Baluch, no specific reason was provided for the travel restriction, and is believed that she was stopped due to her human rights activism in Balochistan.80
Dozens have been put into Fourth Schedule list, which include political and human rights activists and their families, like Mahrang’s brother Nasir is in this list and also Bebo Baloch’s father and many others just to harass the families of the activists. Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader Dr Mahrang Balochi also confirmed that a large number of BYC supporters were put on the Fourth Schedule.81
Baloch women have emerged as powerful agents of change within the resistance movement, defying both societal and state-imposed constraints. Activists like Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi, Dr. Shali, and Dr. Sabiha Baloch symbolise the resilience and strength of the Baloch people, offering new pathways for advocacy, cultural preservation, and gender equality. Their leadership highlights the inseparability of the fight for autonomy and justice from the fight for gender equality and cultural survival.
The Baloch resistance movement is not solely a struggle for political autonomy; it is also a fight for cultural preservation and social justice. Women, as activists, cultural custodians, and community leaders, play a critical role in this broader struggle, often at great personal risk. Despite their significant contributions, the role of Baloch women remains under-appreciated and underreported.
Recognising and amplifying the voices of Baloch women is essential to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the conflict and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future for Balochistan. Their courage and leadership serve as a testament to the transformative power of women in the pursuit of justice, equality, and cultural survival.
References:
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balochistan,_Pakistan#cite_note-bbc-22-2-14-39
2 Rashid, Ahmed (22 February 2014). “Balochistan: The untold story of Pakistan’s otherwar”. BBC News. Archived
3 Rashid, Ahmed (22 February 2014). “Balochistan:The untold story of Pakistan’s other
war”. BBC News. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. “The fifth Baloch insurgency against the Pakistan state began in 2003, with small guerrilla attacks by autonomy-seeking Baloch groups who over the years have become increasingly militant and separatist in ideology.”
4https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/why-baloch-women-in-pakistan-led-an-unprecedented-march/
5https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/why-baloch-women-in-pakistan-led-an-unprecedented-march/
6 Threads of identity:The role of Baloch Cultural Dress in National and Ethnic Identity Formation
7https://bolanvoice.wordpress.com/2019/07/02/banadi-shehak-the-first-baloch-woman-to-lead-a-battle/
8https://balochwarna.com/2021/01/22/the-vital-role-of-baloch-women/
9https://youtu.be/4D_G1tW9nJU?si=h1MlQuykckBgDWUs
10https://thefridaytimes.com/29-Sep-2016/who-are-the-zikris
11https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2013/04/balochistan-the-state-versus-the- nation?lang=en
12https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2013/04/balochistan-the-state-versus-the- nation?lang=en
13 Tribal chiefs in Balochistan.
14https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2013/04/balochistan-the-state-versus-the- nation?lang=en
15https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2013/04/balochistan-the-state-versus-the- nation?lang=en
16HumanRightWatch,“WeCanTorture,Kill,orKeepYouforYears”,26.
17https://www.dawn.com/news/258809/baloch-women-to-observe-hunger-strike
18https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2014/2/28/families-of-missing-baloch-march-for-justice
19https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_for_Baloch_Missing_Persons
20https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/karima-baloch-pakistani-human-rights-activist-found-dead-in-canada
21https://web.archive.org/web/20201224212031/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55368524
22 Ibid
23https://web.archive.org/web/20201226170513/https://www.ozy.com/the-new-and-the-next/karima-baloch-campaigning-for-independence-from-pakistan/35353/
24 Ibid
25 https://balochistan.home.blog/2020/02/17/two-balochistan-based-human-rights-groups-announce-merger/
26https://search.brave.com/search? q=Bibi+Gul+Baloch&source=web&summary=1&conversation=dd8b0e644bbc89325236ea
27https://balochistan.home.blog/2020/02/17/two-balochistan-based-human-rights-groups-announce-merger/
28https://www.dawn.com/news/1102058
29 https://www.dawn.com/news/1102058
30 Ibid
31https://www.change.org/p/ban-ki-moon-secretary-general-of-the-united-nations-save-shabir-baloch-a-student-abducted-by-pakistan-security-forces-in-balochistan
32https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/23/i-only-protest-i-want-to-go-to-school-the-childhoods-lost-in-pakistan-when-loved-ones-are-disappeared
33 Ibid
34https://thebalochistanpost.net/2020/04/arrest-warrants-against-a-missing-person-tbp-editorial/
35https://thediplomat.com/2021/12/balochistans-students-protest-enforced-disappearances/
36https://thecontrapuntal.com/dr-sabiha-balochs-resolute-strife-for-justice/
37 Ibid
38 Ibid
39 Ibid
40 Ibid
41 Ibid
42 Ibid
43 Ibid
44 Ibid
45https://thediplomat.com/2014/01/balochistans-missing-persons/
46https://tribune.com.pk/story/140726/baloch-missing-persons-121-bodies-recovered-in-eight-months/
47 https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2014/2/28/families-of-missing-baloch-march-for-justice
48 Ibid
49 https://www.frontline defenders.org/en/profile/sammi-deen-baloch
50 Ibid
51https://keyt.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2024/11/30/women-are-playing-key-roles-in-protests-across-south-asia-the-backlash-they-face-is-often-heavily-gendered/
52 Ibid
53 https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1195462-sammi-deen-baloch-honoured-with-human-rights-award
54https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sammi_Baloch
55https://thefridaytimes.com/08-Sep-2024/sammi-deen-baloch-claims-she-was- prevented-from-travelling-abroad
56https://keyt.com/news/national-world/cnn-world/2024/11/30/women-are-playing-key-roles-in-protests-across-south-asia-the-backlash-they-face-is-often-heavily-gendered/
57 https://www.frontline defenders.org/en/profile/hooran-baloch
58https://baloch sarmachar.wordpress.com/2012/08/04/i-joined-politics-to-struggle-for-the-liberation-of-my-nation-banuk-hooran-baloch/
59 https://www.frontline defenders.org/en/profile/hooran-baloch
60https://search.brave.com/search? q=bebo+baloch+in+protest source=web&summary=1&conversation=1755eb22c965da3e1b5db4
61 https://www.newsintervention.com/death-squad-pumps-bullet-in-4-yr-old-bramsh-kills-her-mother-does-the-world-even-care/
62 https://balochistan times.com/death-squads-of-balochistan/
63https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Hayat_Baloch
64https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_Yakjehti_Committee
65https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/as-baloch-women-raise-their-voices-the-state-cracks-down/
66 https://minutemirror.com.pk/baloch-groups-set-up-flood-relief-camps-58170/
67https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahrang_Baloch
68https://thewire.in/south-asia/the-assault-by-pakistan-on-baloch-peoples-rights-has-now-reached-women
69https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/women-are-leading-an-unprecedented-protest- movement-in-balochistan/
70https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/as-baloch-women-raise-their-voices-the-state-cracks-down/
71https://thediplomat.com/2022/06/as-baloch-women-raise-their-voices-the-state-cracks-down/
72 https://www.dawn.com/news/1808690
73https://www.nigeriasun.com/news/274108614/jan-25-to-be-celebrated-as-baloch-genocide-day-committee
74https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/31/can-one-woman-unite-the-baloch-people-in-peaceful-resistance-balochistan-pakistan-mahrang
75https://time.com/7023541/mahrang-baloch/
76https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/31/can-one-woman-unite-the-baloch-people-in-peaceful-resistance-balochistan-pakistan-mahrang
77https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/274492497/balochistan-activist-faces-university-suspension-for-criticising-pakistani-armed-forces
78https://time.com/7071983/mahrang-baloch-pakistan-prevented-from-traveling/
79 https://www.dawn.com/news/1864735
80https://the friday times.com/08-Sep-2024/sammi-deen-baloch-claims-she-was- prevented-from-travelling-abroad
81 https://www.dawn.com/news/1858032
DUR BIBI is a Baloch political activist with a background in Defence and Strategic Studies, committed to advocating Baloch rights and highlighting the ongoing struggle of her people.
Also Read: The Baloch National Struggle