Tara Chand, President of the Baloch American Congress, expressed deep concern to US President Donald Trump regarding the life imprisonment of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Mahrang Baloch. The Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced Mahrang Baloch and three others to life imprisonment for their alleged involvement in the killing of a Frontier Corps official.
In a letter to President Trump, Tara Chand highlighted Mahrang Baloch’s peaceful activism for human rights in Balochistan. He emphasized the need for due process and protection of political activists’ rights, as many in Balochistan face repression and rights violations despite the region’s abundant resources.
Chand urged the US government to monitor Mahrang Baloch’s case closely, ensure her right to a fair appeal, and push Pakistan to uphold international human rights standards. Meanwhile, various human rights organizations criticized the verdict, calling it a violation of fair trial principles and an abuse of anti-terrorism laws to suppress dissent.
Amnesty International and the International Human Rights Foundation condemned the ruling, labeling it a miscarriage of justice and a tool to silence human rights defenders. The International Human Rights Foundation described Mahrang Baloch as a courageous voice against human rights violations in Balochistan, unjustly sentenced for her advocacy work.
A delegation led by Naseem Baloch from the Baloch National Movement met with UN Special Rapporteurs to address human rights abuses in Balochistan. The delegation raised concerns about the unfair trial and sentencing of Mahrang Baloch and others, emphasizing the fabricated charges and lack of a fair legal process.
