PAANK Urges Immediate Release of Paralysed Activist Bebarg Baloch Over Health Concerns and Unlawful Detention
Baloch human rights group raises alarm over unlawful detention and denial of urgent medical care for disabled activist
Balochistan, Oct 15 : The Baloch human rights organisation Paank has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating health and unlawful detention of Bebarg Baloch, a paralysed activist and prominent member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).
Paank revealed that Bebarg Baloch has been hospitalised for urgent surgery after weeks of neglect in detention, and called for his immediate release, continuous medical care, and an independent investigation into his arrest and treatment. The organisation held Pakistani authorities accountable for his worsening condition.
Bebarg Baloch has been paralysed since 2010 following a hand grenade attack, allegedly carried out by Pakistani security forces during a Baloch cultural event. Despite his disability, he remained active in peaceful human rights advocacy through BYC.
On March 20, 2025, Bebarg was arrested in Quetta by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) alongside his brother Hammal Zehri, reportedly without a valid warrant or formal charges—actions Paank described as enforced disappearance under international law. Although he was later presented before a court, his detention remains arbitrary and unlawful.
Paank highlighted that denying essential medical care to a disabled detainee amounts to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international human rights law. The organisation cited Section 169 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code, Articles 9 and 14 of Pakistan’s Constitution, and Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to underscore authorities’ obligations to protect life and prevent ill-treatment.
The group urged the Government of Pakistan and Balochistan authorities to release Bebarg on humanitarian and legal grounds, ensure proper medical supervision by qualified specialists, and permit his family, legal counsel, and independent observers to monitor his condition. Paank also demanded a transparent investigation into his arrest, denial of medical care, and any mistreatment during detention.
Calling for international attention, Paank requested the United Nations, Amnesty International, and global human rights bodies to intervene urgently, pressing Pakistan to uphold the rights and dignity of all detainees, particularly the disabled and vulnerable.
