A division bench of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Wednesday admitted for regular hearing a petition filed by Dr Mahrang Baloch, chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), challenging the life imprisonment sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court (ATC). The bench, comprising Justices Gul Hassan Tareen and Najmuddin Mengal, issued notices to the respondents seeking their response.
Additional Advocate General Akbar Shah represented the provincial government, while advocates Jadain Dashti and Nadia Baloch appeared for the petitioner. Dr Mahrang is contesting the Quetta ATC judgement that sentenced her to life imprisonment in a case involving the killing of a security forces member. By admitting the appeal, the high court has agreed to examine the case on its merits; the sentence remains in effect unless suspended or overturned in subsequent proceedings.
In a related development, the Supreme Court issued notices to respondents regarding the denial of post-arrest bail in a separate case registered against Dr Mahrang under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar heard a set of petitions filed by Dr Mahrang and fellow BYC leaders Beebow Baloch and Beebarg Baloch. During the hearing, Justice Mazhar inquired whether separate first information reports (FIRs) had been registered for each accused. Advocate Jibran Nasir confirmed that separate FIRs were filed against his three clients, noting that two of six witnesses had recorded their testimony in the case against Dr Mahrang and that all sections cited in the FIRs were bailable.
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