Unmasking the Falsehoods - The BYC Narrative and Sammi Deen Baloch’s Manufactured Victimhood

By: Ali Asghar

In recent days, Sammi Deen Baloch - a central figure of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has once again attempted to portray herself and her organization as victims of systemic oppression. Her latest claim, published by The Balochistan Post, accuses the Pakistani state of “fearing public support” and suppressing transparency by holding court hearings inside Quetta District Jail for detained BYC leaders. It’s a carefully crafted story, emotionally charged, activist-friendly and perfectly tailored for social media. But it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

A Movement in Name, Not in Law

Let us begin with the obvious: the individuals named by Sammi Deen - Mahrang Baloch, Beebarg Baloch, Shah Ji Baloch, Beebow Baloch, and Gulzadi Baloch are not innocent political campaigners jailed for tweets or peaceful marches. They are currently under investigation in serious cases related to incitement, sedition, and links with subversive activities, according to official sources. These are not "politically motivated FIRs"; they are lawfully registered criminal cases, involving concrete accusations that fall under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act and national security statutes.

When someone is accused of crimes that endanger public order, judicial protocol adjusts accordingly. In such cases, it is entirely within legal bounds to move proceedings to a secure facility such as a district jail; not as a tool of repression, but as a measure of public safety. Pakistan is not the only country that takes such steps; secure court hearings are standard practice worldwide in cases involving national security or threats of unrest.

The Victimhood Industry

Sammi Deen Baloch’s messaging, especially on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), follows a predictable playbook:-

1. Frame legal actions as political persecution.

2. Invoke emotional appeals of state brutality, even in the absence of evidence.

3. Launch online “protest” campaigns from the safety of digital spaces, knowing full well they won’t be censored.

This is not civil resistance - it is digital manipulation of public sentiment.

What’s most telling is the complete absence of any acknowledgment from Sammi or the BYC about the reasons behind these detentions. If their detained colleagues are so innocent, why not publish the full facts of the cases, affidavits, and court documents to prove it? Why rely solely on slogans, hashtags, and friendly coverage from ideologically aligned platforms?

The reason is simple: their version of the story cannot survive rigorous scrutiny.

Courtroom, Not Street Theater

It is also worth noting that court proceedings in Pakistan are governed by legal precedent and due process. If the hearings are now being held inside Quetta District Jail, it is because of the disruptions, incitement, and crowd control concerns observed in earlier public court appearances. Let’s be clear: no one’s “silencing the people’s voice.” The state is ensuring that the judicial process is not derailed by protest theatre masquerading as civic resistance.

The BYC and its defenders cannot demand fair trial while simultaneously trying to turn every court appearance into a political spectacle. Justice cannot and must not be held hostage to mob pressure or media optics.

The Silence on Violence

There is another silence that speaks volumes: Sammi Deen Baloch and her organization have shown no willingness to condemn actual acts of violence by Baloch terrorist groups. Not once has she acknowledged the pain of the countless victims of insurgent attacks; be they security personnel, teachers, labourers, or students from other provinces. This selective morality is not activism. It is agenda-driven exploitation of tragedy.

If the BYC wants to be taken seriously as a political voice for Baloch rights, it must first distance itself from groups and individuals that believe in violence, intimidation, and secession and it must do so publicly and unequivocally.

Conclusion: Emotion ≠ Truth

Sammi Deen Baloch may succeed in swaying sympathizers abroad or confusing casual observers online, but for those who follow the issue closely, her narrative is built on half-truths and omissions. The reality is clear: Pakistan, like any sovereign nation, has the right and the obligation to act against those who threaten its security, unity, and stability.

The BYC may call this oppression but the rest of us call it law enforcement.

Emotion is not evidence. Hashtags are not facts; and activism without accountability is nothing more than propaganda.

Note: Individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. But presumption of innocence also does not preclude the state from taking lawful preventive or investigative action in the face of credible threats.