Pakistan court gives life sentence to Baloch human rights activist over 2024 protest killing

A prominent human rights campaigner from Pakistan’s Balochistan province has been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the death of a paramilitary personnel during a protest in 2024.

Mahrang Baloch, who leads the Balochistan Unity Committee (BYC), was found guilty of murder and terrorism along with fellow activist Sibghatullah. Prosecutors alleged that the two encouraged a crowd that later attacked and killed paramilitary soldier Shabbir Ahmed during a rally.

The activists have denied the accusations and, along with their legal team, boycotted the court proceedings.

Quoting a security official BBC reported that Baloch delivered a highly provocative speech at a demonstration in Gwadar, after which a group of protesters allegedly attacked a military vehicle with sticks and stones. The official claimed Ahmed became separated from his colleagues and was beaten to death.

An anti-terrorism court in Quetta ruled that Baloch and Sibghatullah had participated in an unlawful BYC gathering and shared responsibility for the killing. Both received life sentences and were ordered to pay 200,000 Pakistani rupees in compensation to Ahmed’s family.

Local media reported that the pair had already spent two years in prison facing multiple charges.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan urged authorities to review the verdict, arguing that the state continues to equate human rights advocacy with extremism, resulting in biased legal outcomes.

Baloch’s sister, lawyer Nadia Baloch, and the defense team rejected the ruling, claiming the activists were denied a fair trial. They criticized the proceedings as opaque and said defense lawyers were unable to properly question witnesses who testified remotely.

Environmental activist Greta Thunberg also condemned the trial, calling it a “mockery of justice” and accusing Pakistani authorities of suppressing dissent.

However, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government maintained that prosecutors had strong evidence and insisted the case was not politically motivated.

Mahrang Baloch, who was recognized in the BBC 100 Women 2024, became an activist after her father was allegedly detained by security forces in 2009 and later found dead with signs of torture. In 2023, she led hundreds of women on a 1,600-kilometre march to Islamabad to demand justice for missing relatives.

The BYC campaigns against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, a region that has long experienced tensions over demands for greater autonomy. The organization denies government allegations that it has ties to Baloch militant groups.