A prominent human rights advocate, known for her long-standing campaign against enforced disappearances in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has been sentenced to life in prison following the death of a paramilitary soldier during a 2024 demonstration.
Mahrang Baloch, the head of the Balochistan Unity Committee (BYC), was found guilty of murder and terrorism alongside fellow activist Sibghatullah.
The prosecution alleged that the two activists incited a mob that carried out a fatal attack on paramilitary soldier Shabbir Ahmed.
Both activists, who were joined by their legal counsel in boycotting the proceedings, maintain their innocence and deny all charges.
A security official alleged that Baloch delivered a “highly provocative speech” during a protest in the port city of Gwadar, which led a group of 30 to 40 individuals to attack a soldier’s vehicle with stones and sticks.
According to the official, Ahmed became separated from his unit and was subsequently beaten to death.
An anti-terrorism court in Quetta ruled that Baloch and Sibghatullah were “active in the illegal gatherings of the Baloch Unity Committee” and shared “common objectives in the murder of the Federal Constabulary official.”
The court handed down life sentences and ordered the defendants to pay a fine of 200,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately £543; $719) to Ahmed’s heirs.
Local media reports indicate that Baloch and Sibghatullah have already been incarcerated for two years on various charges.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded an immediate review of the judicial decision.
The Commission argued that the state continues to conflate the advocacy of fundamental rights with extremism, leading to judicial and administrative outcomes that are inherently biased and one-sided.
They described the proceedings as being conducted by a “faceless court,” noting that defense attorneys were prevented from effectively cross-examining eyewitnesses who provided testimony via video link.
In response, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government informed the Associated Press that prosecutors possessed “undeniable evidence” and maintained that the case was not politically motivated.