A counterterrorism court in the city of Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has sentenced Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, to life imprisonment.
The sentence was reportedly handed down on Monday.
Although Mahrang Baloch has not publicly commented on the ruling, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee published a letter on its X account, which was also shared on an account attributed to her.
In the letter, she stated that she and several others had been staging a sit-in and protest inside prison for the past eight days in opposition to what they described as decisions made by the Pakistani government and judiciary.
The letter stated: “For the past eight days, or 192 hours, we have been holding a sit-in and protest inside the prison against the decisions of the government and the judges. Sibghatullah Baloch, Bebarg Baloch, Bebo Baloch, and Gulzadi Baloch are also participating in this protest.”
The letter further alleged that government and judicial authorities have repeatedly obstructed their release, denied bail requests, filed multiple charges to prolong their detention, and conducted proceedings in a special court rather than an open court.
The detainees demanded that their case be heard in a public court and also called for the replacement of Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Muhammad Ali Mubeen.
Mahrang Baloch wrote that imprisonment is part of their struggle and that they will not abandon their campaign for rights and justice. “Prisons are an integral part of our struggle, and we are never prepared to retreat from it because we do not want to give up our demand for rights.”
According to Israr Jatak, a lawyer representing Mahrang Baloch and other BYC activists, the case dates back to 2024 and relates to the death of a member of the security forces during the Baloch Raji Muchi gathering in Gwadar.
The lawyer argued that the individual was allegedly struck by stones during a crowd disturbance and died as a result, rather than being intentionally targeted. However, the court found the accused guilty.
Alongside Mahrang Baloch, several other BYC members, including Sibghatullah Shah Ji, Balach Qadir, leader of the Baloch Students Organization, and Abubakar Kalanchi, were also sentenced to life imprisonment.
Political analyst Shahsawar Sangrowal criticized the decision, saying: “On one hand, Pakistan speaks about human rights, while on the other, it sends a woman to prison and sentences her to life imprisonment. Such actions expose Pakistan’s true face not only to its own people but also to the region and the world.”
Media reports indicate that, for security reasons, the trial was conducted inside Quetta prison through a special court.
Mahrang Baloch is a prominent advocate for Baloch rights and has led protests and campaigns for years against what she describes as the Pakistani government’s treatment of the Baloch people.
Just days before her arrest, her name had reportedly been included among nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize.
