A Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court has handed down life imprisonment to four activists, including Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Mahrang Baloch, for their involvement in the killing of Frontier Corps official Shabbir Baloch during a gathering in Gwadar district. The court found that the official was fatally attacked with stones by a crowd at the ‘Raji Machi’ event, leading to his death.
In addition to Mahrang Baloch, the court also sentenced Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) Chairman Balach Qadir, central leader Abu Bakr Kalanchi, and BYC leader Sibghatullah Shahji to life imprisonment. Legal proceedings took place in a special court within Quetta Jail due to security concerns, as per court documents related to the case.
The verdict has stirred criticism from rights activists and Baloch groups, questioning the fairness of the trial proceedings. The BYC denounced the ruling, labeling it as an act of hostility towards the Baloch community by Pakistani authorities. They highlighted alleged discrepancies in the evidence presented during the trial, emphasizing the lack of a solid legal basis for the life imprisonment sentences.
Sammi Deen Baloch, a BYC member, raised concerns about the transfer of the cases to a “faceless trial” and accused prosecutors of pressuring judges to hasten the trial process. She criticized the court’s approach, suggesting that the judicial system seemed more focused on predetermined punishments rather than ensuring justice for the accused.
