Pakistani rights activist Mahrang Baloch sentenced to life in prison

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has handed a life sentence to prominent civil rights activist Mahrang Baloch and an associate for their alleged roles in the killing of a paramilitary soldier during a protest in July 2024. Baloch's lawyer stated his intention to appeal the verdict.

Baloch, who has been detained since March 2025, has been a leading voice against enforced disappearances and alleged human rights abuses in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, a region experiencing a decades-long insurgency by ethnic separatists.

Human rights advocates have voiced concerns over the trial, noting that the accused boycotted proceedings after being asked to appear via video link from prison. They argue that the life sentences for Baloch and Sibghatullah, another leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), could further erode public trust in the state.

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Those who take the law into their own hands under the guise of peaceful protest, promote violence, and target state officials are in fact facilitators of terrorism.

Balochistan government officials, however, maintain that the verdict, announced on Monday, followed a fair trial. They assert it demonstrates their stance that protesters engaging in violence and targeting state officials can be prosecuted as terrorists. Sarfaraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan, stated that justice had been served for Sepoy Shabbir Baloch, who was killed during the protest in the port city of Gwadar.

"Those who take the law into their own hands under the guise of peaceful protest, promote violence, and target state officials are in fact facilitators of terrorism," Bugti said. The Quetta anti-terrorism court found Baloch and Sibghatullah guilty of murder and terrorism-related offenses, citing eyewitness and medical evidence, and alleging Baloch incited protesters to attack paramilitary personnel.

BYC organizer Lala Abdul Baloch condemned the trial as "faceless" and warned that more Baloch youth might turn to resistance. "When you close access to the corridors of justice then more people will rise up against the state," he said, announcing a province-wide strike in protest. Baloch's lawyer, Israr Jattak, confirmed the verdict would be challenged in the Balochistan High Court.

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When you close access to the corridors of justice then more people will rise up against the state.