Latest news with #UniversityofBalochistan
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Baloch slams closure of language departments
Former chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch on Wednesday condemned a University of Balochistan directive to close its Balochi, Brahui and Pashto departments, calling the move "a calculated assault on the province's linguistic and cultural identity." Speaking at a press conference, Dr Baloch said the decision — reportedly taken on financial grounds — would silence languages spoken by millions across Balochistan. "Universities are centres of learning, not profit-making enterprises," he argued. "If deficits become the yardstick, half the public institutions in Pakistan would have to shut their doors." The National Party leader warned that repeated fee hikes had already driven enrolment down, while faculty salaries were chronically delayed. "Inflation is soaring, yet educators are told to tighten their belts while billions are diverted to administrative perks," he said, noting that deputy commissioners continue to head development projects despite a court order barring them from those roles. Dr Baloch pointed out the irony of scrapping Balochi courses at home even as the language is taught at universities overseas, including in Sweden. Brahui, he added, is offered at only one institution worldwide — the very department now facing closure in Quetta. Calling the step "an act of cultural vandalism," he urged the provincial government and university syndicate to reverse the directive immediately. "Marginalising native tongues today will rob future generations of their heritage tomorrow," he warned.
Khaleej Times
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UN experts demand Pakistan release Baloch activists, halt crackdown
More than a dozen United Nations experts demanded on Wednesday that Pakistan immediately release detained Baloch rights defenders and that it halt its crackdown on peaceful protests. Among those arrested in recent days was Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistan's most prominent human rights advocates, who has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group. She and other activists took part in a sit-in protest on Friday outside the University of Balochistan in the provincial capital of Quetta. They demanded the release of members of their support group, whom they allege had been detained by security agencies. "We have been monitoring with growing concern reports of alleged arrests and enforced disappearances of Baloch activists over the past number of months," the independent experts said in a statement. Police launched a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, arresting Baloch and other activists, during which at least three protestors died. Both sides blamed each other for the deaths. On Sunday, Baloch and other protesters were charged with terrorism, sedition and murder, according to the police charge sheet seen by AFP. In their statement, the experts, including the UN special rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders, on minority issues and on counter-terrorism and human rights, decried "the use of excessive force as a first response to peaceful protests". Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces and foreign nationals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran. Police actions against Baloch activists have intensified after Baloch separatists earlier this month launched a dramatic train siege that officials said ended in around 60 deaths, half of whom were separatists behind the assault. "We understand the deeply traumatic impact of the March 11 terrorist attack, and we express our deepest sympathy to the victims," said the experts, who are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council but who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself. In addition to Mahrang Baloch's case, the experts highlighted the arrest on Monday of another woman human rights defender, Sammi Deen Baloch, along with others in front of the Karachi Press Club as they protested against the crackdown. "We urge the Pakistani authorities to immediately release them and to refrain from abusing counter-terrorism or public safety measures against human rights defenders," the experts said.
Arab News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan charges Baloch activist with ‘terrorism'
QUETTA: Pakistan on Sunday charged a Baloch rights activist with terrorism, sedition and murder after she led a demonstration which ended in the death of three protesters, according to police documents. Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistan's most prominent human rights advocates, has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group, which claims it has been targeted by Islamabad with harassment and extrajudicial killings. Pakistan's military and the central government in Islamabad strongly refute her allegations. Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces and foreign nationals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran. On Friday, she and other activists took part in a sit-in protest outside the University of Balochistan in the provincial capital of Quetta. They demanded the release of members of their support group, whom they allege had been detained by security agencies. Police launched a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, arresting Baloch and other activists, during which at least three protesters died. Both sides blamed each other for the deaths. Mary Lawlor, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights defenders, said she was 'very concerned' at Baloch's arrest. Baloch and other protesters have been charged with terrorism, sedition and murder, according to the police charge sheet seen by AFP. Hamza Shafqaat, a senior administrative official in Quetta, said that Baloch and other activists were held under public order laws. Her lawyer, Imran Baloch, confirmed she was detained in a jail in Quetta. Baloch was barred from traveling to the United States last year to attend a TIME magazine awards gala of 'rising leaders.' Protests among the Baloch are often led by women. Baloch, now in her 30s, began her activist career aged 16 when her father went missing in what his supporters said was an alleged 'enforced disappearance.' His body was found two years later. Earlier in March, the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) — which accuses outsiders of plundering the province's natural resources — launched a dramatic train siege that officials said ended in around 60 deaths, half of whom were separatists behind the assault.
Khaleej Times
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Pakistan charges Baloch rights activist with terrorism
Pakistan on Sunday charged a Baloch rights activist with terrorism, sedition and murder after she led a demonstration which ended in the death of three protesters, according to police documents. Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistan's most prominent human rights advocates, has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group, which claims it has been targeted by Islamabad with harassment and extrajudicial killings. Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces and foreign nationals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran. On Friday, she and other activists took part in a sit-in protest outside the University of Balochistan in the provincial capital of Quetta. They demanded the release of members of their support group, whom they allege had been detained by security agencies. Police launched a pre-dawn raid on Saturday, arresting Baloch and other activists, during which at least three protestors died. Both sides blamed each other for the deaths. Mary Lawlor, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights defenders, said she was "very concerned" at Baloch's arrest. Baloch and other protesters have been charged with terrorism, sedition and murder, according to the police charge sheet seen by AFP. Hamza Shafqaat, a senior administrative official in Quetta, said that Baloch and other activists were held under public order laws. Her lawyer, Imran Baloch, confirmed she was detained in a jail in Quetta. Baloch was barred from travelling to the United States last year to attend a TIME magazine awards gala of "rising leaders". Protests among the Baloch are often led by women. Baloch, now in her 30s, began her activist career aged 16 when her father went missing in what his supporters said was an alleged "enforced disappearance". His body was found two years later. Earlier in March, the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) — which accuses outsiders of plundering the province's natural resources — launched a dramatic train siege that officials said ended in around 60 deaths, half of whom were separatists behind the assault.
South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Pakistan charges human rights, Baloch activist with ‘terrorism'
Pakistan on Sunday charged a Baloch rights activist with terrorism, sedition and murder after she led a demonstration which ended in the death of three protesters, according to police documents. Advertisement Mahrang Baloch, one of Pakistan's most prominent human rights advocates, has long campaigned for the Baloch ethnic group, which claims it has been targeted by Islamabad with harassment and extrajudicial killings. Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces and foreign nationals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran. On Friday, she and other activists took part in a sit-in outside the University of Balochistan in the provincial capital of Quetta. They demanded the release of members of their support group, whom they allege had been detained by security agencies. Advertisement Police launched a predawn raid on Saturday, arresting Baloch and other activists, during which at least three protesters died. Both sides blamed each other for the deaths.
