Mahrang ends hunger strike after BHC notices to govt

QUETTA: Detained rights activist Mahrang Baloch has ended a hunger strike after the Balochistan High Court (BHC) asked the authorities to justify her detention, her lawyer told AFP on Tuesday.

Mahrang Baloch, 32, was arrested last month on charges of terrorism, sedition and murder.

The Balochistan High Court agreed on Monday to consider an application to overturn her administrative detention, her lawyer Imran Baloch told AFP. Mahrang´s detention was renewed for a second month a week ago.

“Petition got admitted by high court and notices were issued to government,” the lawyer said, adding that a hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.

Mahrang and the other activists agreed to end their hunger strike after meeting with her family and lawyers on Monday, Imran Baloch said.

A group of 13 UN human rights experts expressed concern on Tuesday over the detention of BYC leaders and their supporters.

“Pakistan appears to conflate legitimate human and minority rights advocacy and public demonstrations with terrorism, threatening freedoms of expression, assembly, and association,” the independent experts, who are appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, said in a statement.

They also noted the ban on several Baloch activists from leaving the country, which includes Mahrang.