Dr. Sabiha Baloch Decries Pakistani Raid as ‘Collective Punishment’

Quetta, July 17, 2025 — Prominent Baloch activist Dr. Sabiha Baloch has accused Pakistani security forces of carrying out a “collective punishment campaign” following a forceful raid on her family residence, sparking outcry from human rights organizations both domestically and abroad.
The incident occurred Saturday evening in her native village, where personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC) allegedly stormed the home without a warrant. Dr. Baloch said family members were harassed, threatened, and subjected to an invasive search. The raid follows her outspoken activism on enforced disappearances and minority rights in Balochistan.
Targeting of Activist Families
Dr. Baloch’s father was forcibly disappeared three months ago, she claimed, and remains missing. She believes the state is now targeting her directly in an attempt to silence the growing voice of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), of which she is a leading member.
“The state wants to force me into silence by punishing my family. But I will not stop advocating for justice and dignity for the Baloch people,” she said in a statement.
Mounting International Concern
Dr. Baloch has called on Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations to urgently investigate the raid, which she described as part of a wider crackdown on peaceful dissent. Rights groups are increasingly alarmed by Pakistan’s use of extrajudicial measures against critics, especially in Balochistan.
The Pakistani government has yet to respond publicly. Observers say the incident reflects an intensifying climate of repression ahead of next year’s general elections.