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Case History: Saeed Baloch

Statut: 
Released on Bail
About the situation

Human rights defender Mr Saeed Baloch was released from prison on bail on 3 August 2016. On 16 January 2016, the human rights defender was arrested by Pakistani special forces in Karachi and detained at an unknown location. No official charges have as of yet been brought against him.

About Saeed Baloch

Saeed BalochSaeed Baloch is a prominent civil society activist and the Secretary General of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), a non-governmental organisation based in Karachi, which works to advance the social, economic, cultural and political rights of fishermen and indigenous fishing communities in Pakistan. He is also an employee of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS)'s labour union.

3 Août 2016
Saeed Baloch Released on Bail

Human rights defender Mr Saeed Baloch was released from prison on bail on 3 August 2016. On 16 January 2016, the human rights defender was arrested by Pakistani special forces in Karachi and detained at an unknown location. No official charges have as of yet been brought against him.

12 Février 2016
Arrest of human rights defender Saeed Baloch

On 16 January 2016, human rights defender Mr Saeed Baloch was arrested by Pakistani special forces in Karachi and detained at an unknown location. No official charges have as of yet been brought against him.

The arrest was allegedly carried out by members of the Pakistani special force unit known as the Rangers. Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Rangers are authorised to detain a person for up to three months on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities without official charges being brought against them. Law enforcement agencies in Pakistan are yet to respond to inquiries regarding the arrest and detention of Saeed Baloch. The whereabouts of the human rights defender remain unknown.

The arrest of Saeed Baloch adds to the previous persecution of members of the Fishermen Cooperative Society. In June 2015, Mr Sultan Qamar Siddiqui, Mr Muhammad Khan Chachar and Mr Rana Shahid, the directors of the organisation, were arrested for their alleged involvement in extortion, killing, corruption and funding criminal syndicates in the Karachi. Three further members of the organisation are currently wanted by police on the basis of the same allegations.