Dr Mahrang Baloch, a 33-year-old activist from Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of terrorism, sedition, and murder charges related to the death of a paramilitary soldier during a 2024 protest in Gwadar.
Baloch, who transformed from a doctor into a prominent rights activist, became well-known for campaigning against enforced disappearances in the region. She and fellow activist Sibghatullah Shah deny the charges and plan to appeal the ruling, according to her sister Nadia Baloch, who spoke to the BBC.
The case carries deep personal significance for Baloch. At 16, she lost her father, Abdul Ghaffar Langove, who was allegedly arrested by security forces in 2009 and later killed. Nearly three years later, his body was discovered in Lasbela district bearing signs of severe torture. The circumstances surrounding her father’s death fundamentally shaped her activism.
Baloch’s sister described the family’s defiance, stating they would challenge the decision in higher courts. When asked about visiting Mahrang in prison, Nadia expressed that she lacked the courage to do so, feeling she had failed to secure justice for her sister.
