Key facts
- Mahrang Baloch, a prominent activist, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Pakistan.
- She was convicted of murder and terrorism for her alleged role in the killing of a paramilitary soldier at a 2024 rally.
- Baloch and a co-accused, Sibghatullah, deny the charges and boycotted the trial.
- The conviction stems from an incident where a mob attacked soldier Shabbir Ahmed.
- Human rights groups and Baloch's legal team have criticized the trial, citing a lack of due process and bias.
A prominent human rights activist in Pakistan, Mahrang Baloch, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murder and terrorism. The conviction relates to the killing of a paramilitary soldier, Shabbir Ahmed, at a rally in 2024 in Gwadar, Balochistan. Prosecutors alleged that Baloch, leader of the Balochistan Unity Committee (BYC), incited a mob of 30-40 people to attack the soldier.
Baloch, along with fellow activist Sibghatullah, denies the charges and boycotted the trial, which their legal team described as a "mockery of justice" conducted in "utter secrecy" and lacking due process. They stated that defense lawyers were unable to properly cross-examine eyewitnesses who testified via video link. A security official, however, claimed Baloch delivered a "very provocative speech" that led to the attack.
An anti-terrorism court in Quetta found Baloch and Sibghatullah guilty of participating in an illegal gathering with common objectives in the murder of the Federal Constabulary official. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay 200,000 Pakistani rupees to Ahmed's heirs. Both activists have already been detained for two years on various charges.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan urged an immediate review of the verdict, stating the state's policy treats advocacy for fundamental rights as extremism, leading to biased judicial decisions. A spokesperson for Balochistan's government countered that prosecutors possessed "undeniable evidence" and that the case was not politically motivated.
Mahrang Baloch, recognized by the BBC as one of its 100 Women of 2024, began her activism after her father was allegedly disappeared by security forces in 2009 and later found dead. In late 2023, she led a significant march to Islamabad advocating for missing family members. The BYC campaigns against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, a region experiencing a long-standing struggle for greater autonomy. The organization denies government allegations of links to Baloch militants.