An anti-terrorism court in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has sentenced prominent Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch—often referred to as the “Lioness of Balochistan”—along with Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Sibghatullah Shah, to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of a security official during a rally held in Gwadar in 2024, according to The Balochistan Post.
The judgement was delivered on Monday by Judge Muhammad Ali Mobin of the Anti-Terrorism Court Quetta-1. The sentencing took place amid a boycott of court proceedings by Mahrang, other detained BYC leaders, and their legal counsel. Reports, including those cited by BBC Urdu, said the detained leaders had been staging a sit-in inside Quetta’s District Jail, Hadda, since June 12 in protest against the trial process.
According to Mahrang’s lawyer Israr Jatak, as quoted by BBC Urdu, the case is linked to the death of a security official during the “Baloch Raji Machi” gathering organised by the BYC in Gwadar in July 2024. The event later turned into a sit-in at Marine Drive, where organisers pressed for the fulfilment of key demands. The gathering reportedly drew participants from across Balochistan as well as from Baloch communities in Afghanistan and Iran, and protests in multiple districts were followed by clashes between BYC supporters and security forces, resulting in multiple casualties.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee strongly condemned the life sentences, describing the verdict as reflecting hostility towards the Baloch population in Pakistan. The group claimed the case lacked legal basis and pointed to alleged inconsistencies in FIRs and evidence, calling the ruling an example of state and judicial repression. It also said the decision marked a new phase of resistance and vowed to continue its movement despite the convictions.
Mahrang’s sister, advocate Nadia Baloch, also rejected the verdict, calling it the outcome of a “faceless court” and noting that the defence team had boycotted proceedings since June 12. She said government-appointed lawyers were rejected by the accused during the boycott period, as reported by BBC Urdu.
Activist Sammi Deen Baloch, an associate of Mahrang, criticised the judiciary, alleging that the verdict reflected predetermined punishment rather than justice. She said the courts had aligned with state power instead of protecting the rights of the oppressed, and that the ruling would be remembered as part of broader institutional suppression of dissent.
Alongside the Gwadar case, Mahrang Baloch and several BYC leaders are facing multiple other criminal cases. One case relates to the deaths of three individuals during a police crackdown on a BYC sit-in, with police alleging that protesters opened fire during clashes. Another FIR registered at Quetta’s Sariab Police Station on March 21 accused hundreds of BYC protesters of gathering in support of banned organisations, raising anti-state slogans, damaging property, and engaging in violence against law enforcement personnel, claims which also include allegations of injuries and deaths during the unrest.
Mahrang Baloch has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the movement against enforced disappearances and alleged extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Her activism gained international attention after she led a 1,600-kilometre march from Turbat to Islamabad in 2023, demanding accountability for missing persons. Her personal experiences, including the alleged abduction and death of her father and the disappearance of her brother, have shaped her public role as an activist. Over time, she has become a leading voice for Baloch rights and has been recognised internationally, including features on BBC’s 100 Women list and Time’s 100 Next list in 2024.
