An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Quetta on Friday refused to extend the physical remand of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch and other organisers, according to the group\u2019s lawyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advocate Israr Jatak, a member of BYC\u2019s legal team, told Dawn.com<\/em>, \u201cQuetta ATC-1 refused to extend the physical remand of five accused, namely Mahrang, Bebow Baloch, Sibghatullah Shahji, Beberg Baloch and Gulzadi and ordered them to be sent to jail on judicial remand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a hearing presided over by Judge Muhammad Ali Mubeen, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) produced Mahrang and others in court today after the completion of their 15-day physical remand granted on September 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advocate Shoaib Mengal, along with Advocate Jatak, appeared in the court on behalf of the accused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CTD requested the court for an extension to the physical remand of the accused, but Judge Mubeen refused, asking for the accused to be handed over to jail custody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On September 11, a Quetta ATC judge extended<\/a> the physical remand of Dr Mahrang and other organisers of the group on the police\u2019s request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The BYC is a Baloch advocacy group working against enforced disappearances since 2018. Mahrang, along with other BYC members, was arrested<\/a> on March 22 on allegations of \u201cattacking\u201d the Quetta Civil Hospital and \u201cinciting people to violence\u201d. The arrests were made a day after the group faced a police crackdown<\/a> while protesting against alleged enforced disappearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was taken into custody under Section 3 of the Mainte\u00adnance of Public Order (MPO) \u2014 a law that empowers authorities to arrest and detain individuals suspected of posing a threat to public order \u2014 for a period of 30 days (first term). Thereafter, her detention was extended<\/a> for an additional 30 days (second term) through a decision of the Balochistan Home Department in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the BYC leaders had completed three months in custody in June, the provincial government issued a fourth extension order<\/a>, extending their imprisonment by another 15 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n