Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a medical professional and Baloch human rights activist, has emerged as one of the most compelling figures in Pakistan‘s ongoing human rights discourse. At 32, she has not only become a symbol of resistance in Balochistan, but her fearless advocacy against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the exploitation of natural resources has earned her international recognition, including a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2025.
Born on February 3, 1993, Mahrang was raised in a politically conscious Baloch family. Her father, Abdul Gaffar Langove, was a vocal Baloch nationalist who openly condemned state repression. His disappearance in 2009, followed by his tortured body being discovered in 2011, marked a turning point in her life. She was only 16 when she began protesting his abduction—a moment that sparked her transformation into a powerful activist.
Dr. Baloch earned her MBBS degree from Bolan Medical College in Quetta and went on to serve in the province’s healthcare system. However, her growing commitment to activism soon took center stage with her younger brother also being abducted in 2017, an incident that spurred her into becoming a leading figure in the Baloch resistance movement.
Her activism took a more visible form in 2020 when she led students in a successful hunger strike against the proposed removal of a quota system for medical students from remote areas. The campaign underscored her ability to mobilize grassroots support, particularly among students and young professionals.
What has set Mahrang apart is her unwavering focus on the plight of the Baloch people, particularly women who continue to suffer under an oppressive security regime. She leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a civil rights group that has become synonymous with peaceful resistance. In 2023, she led a 1,000-kilometer-long march from Turbat to Islamabad, demanding justice for a Baloch man allegedly killed in police custody. Facing roadblocks, harassment, and arrests, she and hundreds of fellow protesters endured weeks of hardship in the capital.
The march gained international attention, with figures like Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai voicing their support. It also led to her inclusion in Time Magazine’s 100 Emerging Leaders and the BBC 100 Women list in 2024. However, the recognition came at a cost. Just days after being listed by Time, Mahrang was barred from flying to New York to attend the magazine’s event. Her passport and phone were confiscated at Jinnah International Airport, where she was briefly detained. It later emerged that she had been placed on Pakistan’s National Identity List (PNIL)—a database typically reserved for suspects of terrorism and financial crimes.
In March 2025, Dr. Mahrang Baloch was arrested in Quetta during a police raid on a sit-in protest organized by the BYC. Authorities accused her of inciting violence and attempting to claim the bodies of BLA militants killed in the Jaffar Express train attack. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, condemned her arrest, calling it a politically motivated crackdown on dissent.
Despite her imprisonment and the charges of terrorism, murder, and sedition, support for her cause continues to grow. The Balochistan National Party launched a “long march” in late March 2025, drawing thousands to the streets in a show of solidarity. Protesters even marked Eid al-Fitr near Quetta as a form of peaceful resistance.
Mahrang’s influence extends beyond protest. Her ability to unify fractured communities and demand accountability from the state has made her a formidable presence.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch remains imprisoned, yet her voice echoes louder than ever. Her journey from medical student to global rights icon reflects a deep-rooted resilience. While Pakistan continues to deny any wrongdoing and labels her actions subversive, her Nobel nomination signals growing international recognition of her cause.
