Paank demands immediate release of paralysed activist Bebarg Baloch amid critical health crisis, unlawful detention
The Baloch human rights organization Paank has raised urgent concerns regarding the deteriorating health and unlawful detention of Bebarg Baloch, a paralyzed human rights defender affiliated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), reports 24brussels.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Paank disclosed that Bebarg has been hospitalized for emergency surgery following severe medical complications resulting from weeks of neglect during his detention. The organization has called for his immediate release, prompt medical attention, and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and treatment, attributing responsibility to the Pakistani authorities for his deteriorating condition.
Bebarg Baloch has been paralyzed since 2010 after sustaining critical injuries in a grenade attack allegedly executed by Pakistani security forces during a Baloch cultural festival. Despite facing permanent disability, he has continued his peaceful activism, advocating for the rights of the Baloch people through the BYC.
However, on March 20, 2025, he was apprehended in Quetta by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) alongside his brother, Hammal Zehri. The organization stated that the arrest occurred without a valid warrant or formal charges, constituting an enforced disappearance under international law. Although Bebarg was later presented in court, Paank emphasized that his detention remains arbitrary and unlawful.
Paank highlighted that the denial of essential medical care to a disabled detainee amounts to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international human rights standards. The organization referenced Section 169 of Pakistan’s Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which mandates the release of detainees whose trials are unnecessarily delayed or unsupported by evidence.
Additionally, the group cited Articles 9 and 14 of Pakistan’s Constitution, alongside Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Pakistan is a party. These provisions obligate authorities to safeguard life and prevent torture or ill-treatment, including the denial of medical care to detainees.
In its statement, Paank urged the Government of Pakistan and the provincial administration of Balochistan to release Bebarg Baloch immediately on humanitarian and legal grounds, ensure consistent medical supervision by qualified professionals, and allow his family, legal representatives, and independent observers to monitor his condition. The organization has also called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of his arrest, the lack of medical care, and any potential acts of torture or mistreatment during his detention.
Furthermore, Paank urged the United Nations, Amnesty International, and the international human rights community to intervene swiftly and compel Pakistan to fulfill its obligations to protect the rights, dignity, and lives of all detainees, particularly those who are disabled and vulnerable.
