Gulzar Dost
Gulzar Dost is a Baloch human rights defender and the convener of Kech Civil Society - a human rights group based in the Kech district of Balochistan. Gulzar Dost documents, monitors, and advocates on human rights violations, despite extremely violent and hostile conditions, and serious risks to his personal safety.
Gulzar Dost has been targeted several times due to his human rights work. In July 2024, he was placed under house arrest as a reprisal against his advocacy and campaigns against human rights violations in Balochistan. The restrictions were aimed at preventing his participation or involvement in the Baloch National Gathering in July 2024, which was met with violence and oppressive measures by security forces before and during the peaceful gathering. Gulzar Dost was among several prominent human rights defenders targeted during this period. His house arrest was lifted shortly after the national gathering.
In July 2025, Gulzar Dost was detained by officers from the Counter Terrorism Department and is accused of provocative speech against the state.
Human rights defenders in Pakistan are subjected to a range of attacks and abuses, including extra-judicial killings and violence, arbitrary arrest and detention, brutal sectarian violence, abduction and enforced disappearance, surveillance, threats and judicial harassment. Many HRDs have even had their offices attacked or burnt down and their colleagues killed. There exists a culture of impunity for killings of HRDs and this has emboldened perpetrators and fuelled further violence against them. Behind the veil of national security, the government continues to muzzle those critical of it’s policies and of Islam. In addition to this, HRDs are further threatened and intimidated by various non-state actors such as militants and interest groups.
