Between 20 and 22 March 2025, security forces in Quetta violently suppressed peaceful protests led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and other civil society actors. The demonstrations were triggered by the burial of 13 bodies—believed by families to be forcibly disappeared individuals—without proper identification procedures. Protesters demanded transparency and justice. The crackdown involved police violence, internet shutdowns, and arrests. At least three protesters were reportedly killed.
At the forefront of the protests was Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent human rights defender and spokesperson of the BYC, known for advocating for the rights of Baloch families and survivors of enforced disappearance. Protesters demanded proper procedures and justice. The crackdown involved police violence, internet shutdowns, and the arrest of Dr. Baloch, who remains in detention as of April 2025, despite national and international calls for her release.
This incident has been widely condemned by UN experts and human rights groups, who see it as part of a broader pattern of systematic repression against civic activism in Balochistan. This event exemplifies the use of excessive force, anti-terror laws, and digital repression to silence peaceful dissent, especially from marginalized groups.