Who Is Mahrang Baloch, A Doctor Giving Sleepless Nights To Pakistan?

Many Baloch nationalists believe that the central government in Islamabad has marginalized their region politically and economically. Now, the protest has reached a stage where the Pakistani forces are not only directing clashing with the unarmed locals but are even accused of killing and abducting Baloch leaders. At present, Mahrang Baloch is one of the leaders who are spearheading the protest against Pakistan establishment.

Mahrang Baloch is a Baloch social and political activist hailing from Balochistan, a region in Pakistan. Renowned for her human rights advocacy, she focuses on championing the rights and freedoms of the Baloch people. Balochistan's history is marked by political unrest and demands for greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan, and activists like Mahrang play a crucial role in bringing the region's issues to light on both national and international stages.

Mahrang Baloch's activism centers on addressing enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and other reported human rights abuses in the region. Mahrang's work is part of a larger movement seeking to resolve grievances related to political representation, resource control, and cultural preservation in Balochistan.

Born on February 3, 1993, in Kalat, Balochistan, Mahrang is also a medical doctor, having completed her MBBS from Bolan Medical College. The abduction and subsequent death of her father, Abdul Gaffar Lango, a notable Baloch nationalist, in 2011, which involved severe torture, fueled her commitment to activism.

Mahrang's activism is deeply personal, influenced by the tragic losses within her family and the wider struggle of the Baloch people against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. She emerged as a key figure in the Baloch resistance movement, particularly after the deaths of her father and brother due to state actions. 

In 2023, she spearheaded a 1,600-kilometer Long March from Balochistan to Islamabad, aiming to draw attention to the human rights abuses in her homeland.