Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, has earned a prestigious spot on the Time 100 Most Influential 2024 list, recognizing her peaceful advocacy for Baloch rights. The renowned Time magazine’s ‘2024 Time100 Next’ list, which celebrates 100 individuals making a significant impact worldwide, included Dr. Mahrang for her persistent fight for justice, particularly in relation to her activism around enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The magazine hailed her December 2023 march to Islamabad, where she led hundreds of women demanding justice for their missing family members, as a pivotal moment in her advocacy.
The Time 100 Most Influential 2024 list showcases individuals under 40 from across the globe who have defied the odds to create meaningful change in their respective fields, whether in arts, sports, or activism.
The magazine noted that “influence does not come with age, nor does leadership conform to traditional molds.” Dr. Mahrang was singled out not only for her advocacy but also for her personal journey of resilience. She came into the public spotlight when her father, Ghaffar Longove, was abducted and disappeared in December 2009. At that time, she was only a primary school student, the eldest of six siblings.
In a heart-wrenching protest, she burned her schoolbooks outside the Quetta Press Club, demanding her father’s safe return. Unfortunately, his mutilated body was discovered two years later, in 2011, igniting her lifelong dedication to the cause of justice for forcibly disappeared persons.
In December 2023, Dr. Mahrang organized one of the largest marches in Islamabad to highlight the plight of missing persons, bringing international attention to the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
According to a report published in July 2024, a staggering 197 new cases of missing persons were documented in the first half of the year, most of them from Balochistan. Dr. Mahrang’s tireless efforts in shedding light on this grave human rights issue earned her the much-deserved place on the Time 100 Most Influential 2024 list.
Upon learning of the recognition, Dr. Mahrang shared her feelings through a Facebook post, stating, “I am deeply honored and delighted to be named among the top 100 emerging leaders of the world by TIME. This recognition is not mine alone; I dedicate it to all Baloch women human rights defenders and the families of victims of enforced disappearances. This is for them.”
Her inclusion on the Time 100 Most Influential 2024 list puts her in the company of other influential figures worldwide. Among them is Bangladesh’s student leader Nahid Islam, who played a key role in leading student protests that led to the exile of former premier Sheikh Hasina.
Another notable figure is Hamada Shaqoura, a food blogger from Gaza who turned his culinary skills into a humanitarian effort by sharing recipes and distributing food in conflict zones during the 2023 Gaza war. Despite their achievements, Shaqoura somberly remarked that he felt little reason to celebrate as his people continued to face daily threats to their lives.
The inclusion of these leaders from diverse backgrounds reflects the magazine’s vision of celebrating individuals who bring significant social change in their regions, regardless of age or traditional leadership models.
Also Read: Dr. Shahzad Baig in ‘Time 100 Most Influential in Health’
