KARACHI: Mahrang Baloch, the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, was recently barred from traveling to New York after discovering her name was on the no-fly list.
The activist was invited to attend a Time Magazine gala as one of the “Most Influential Emerging Leaders of the Year” and was named among Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2024”.
Mahrang is fairly active on social media where she highlights human rights abuses in Balochistan, where many men have gone missing or been deceased.
This recognition is a testament to her tireless efforts in leading hundreds of Baloch women in demanding justice for their missing loved ones in the federal capital.
On her Twitter (X) account Maharang expressed her frustration, stating that the travel ban reflects the state’s growing insecurity regarding the Baloch people. She further described that the staff unjustly stopped her from flying at Karachi International Airport, with no legal validation.
Today, I was scheduled to travel to New York to attend @TIME Magazine’s gala, where I was invited alongside other leaders named as TIME’s Most Influential Emerging Leaders of the Year. However, I was unjustly stopped at Karachi International Airport with no legal or valid given… pic.twitter.com/Ea7dH4W6Fb
— Mahrang Baloch (@MahrangBaloch_) October 7, 2024
Moreover, She believes the ban aims to silence advocates for Baloch rights and control the narrative around the ongoing human rights abuses in the region.
As the leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Mahrang has been instrumental in organizing movements and sit-ins to raise awareness about enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan.
Earlier, Mahrang described her feelings about being named in the ”100 Most Influential People in the World 2024”, She expressed her gratitude and dedicated this achievement to the victims of abuse in Balochistan.
I am deeply honored and delighted to be named among the top 100 emerging leaders of the world by @TIME.
I dedicate this recognition to all Baloch women human rights defenders and families of victims of forcefully disappeared people.https://t.co/uq1ipDBMWL
— Mahrang Baloch (@MahrangBaloch_) October 2, 2024
