In a significant development, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Quetta on Monday handed life imprisonment sentences to prominent Baloch rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch and another youth leader for their alleged involvement in the killing of a security official during a protest.
The court, Anti-Terrorism Court-I (ATC-I) Quetta, sentenced Mahrang Baloch, who leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), along with her co-accused Sibghatullah. Both activists appeared for their trial via video link from Quetta district jail, where they are currently detained.
The prosecution presented evidence that a security official named Shabbir died after being hit by a stone during a BYC-organized demonstration in Gwadar, a coastal city. Mahrang and Sibghatullah were formally charged in the murder case, with the state holding them responsible for the official’s death.
Notably, the BYC has been at the forefront of advocacy campaigns and long marches against alleged forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, a province rich in resources but marked by volatility. Their protests often attract large gatherings and face harsh crackdowns from state authorities.
Meanwhile, state investigators revealed that the legal action against Mahrang and other BYC members commenced following a March 11, 2025 insurgent attack on the Jaffar Express train, which resulted in 26 fatalities. After a security operation targeting the attackers, the bodies of the militants were taken to Civil Hospital Quetta.
Investigators stated that a crowd led by Mahrang allegedly stormed the hospital, entered the mortuary, and forcibly removed at least five bodies of the suspected militants. This incident triggered the initiation of legal proceedings against her and her associates within days.
Subsequently, Mahrang was detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance on March 22, 2025. Another BYC leader, Gulzadi Baloch, was arrested in connection with the case on April 11, 2025.
The formal charges against Mahrang fall under Sections 11-EE and 11-F of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. These sections pertain to individuals listed on the state’s Fourth Schedule watch list and those accused of supporting banned organizations.
Anti-terrorism trials in Pakistan are typically conducted under stringent security measures due to a history of militant attacks targeting judges, prosecutors, investigators, and police officials involved in such cases.
