Quetta, June 23: Prominent Baloch activist Mehrang Baloch has been sentenced to life imprisonment. This ruling by a Pakistani court has been denounced by human rights organizations as an act of “judicial terrorism.” Local media reports indicate that Mehrang and three other Baloch activists received life sentences related to the murder of a Frontier Corps officer.
On Monday, a counter-terrorism court in Pakistan handed down the sentences. The Baloch National Movement (BNM) condemned the ruling, labeling Pakistan as a “terrorist state.” They accused Islamabad of misusing its power and institutions to instill fear in Balochistan.
The BNM stated on social media, “We reject this verdict. Pakistan’s judicial terrorism cannot halt the Baloch national movement nor obstruct the politics of resistance.”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) described the decision as a “denial of justice.” They argued that the ruling aims to criminalize peaceful human rights activities and silence those who speak out against state-sponsored human rights violations.
HRCB emphasized, “Such actions reflect the suppression of dissent and the ongoing contraction of fundamental freedoms in Balochistan. Pakistan has an obligation under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to protect freedom of expression, the right to assemble, and the right to a fair trial, all of which have been severely compromised by this ruling.”
Additionally, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) criticized the convictions of Mehrang Baloch and the other activists, calling for an urgent review of the decision.
HRCP stated on social media, “Unfortunately, the state continues to view advocacy for fundamental rights through the same lens it uses to confront extremism. This has led to decisions by the executive and judiciary that appear imbalanced and biased. We demand an immediate review of the counter-terrorism court’s ruling and the initiation of political dialogue in Balochistan.”
Shali Baloch, central coordinator of the Baloch Women Forum (BWF), urged the international and national legal communities and human rights activists to raise their voices against this alleged “judicial and governmental oppression.”
She wrote on social media, “Today’s court decisions against Baloch political activists have once again made it clear that the country’s judicial system exhibits bias against Baloch political activists who believe in transparency and non-violence. State institutions are employing every possible means to suppress voices advocating for peaceful and constitutional struggle in Balochistan.”
She further stated, “We view this ruling as another part of a series aimed at silencing political activists and criminalizing dissent, and we strongly condemn it.”
Shafi Burfat, president of the Jeay Sindh Mutahida Mahaz (JSM), described the ruling as a “psychological tactic” against political activists from Pakistan’s allegedly “oppressed regions” and a “tool of state-sponsored control.”
Burfat appealed to the international community, the United Nations, global human rights organizations, democratic institutions, and freedom-supporting forces worldwide to recognize the ongoing actions against political activists in Pakistan, including enforced disappearances, politically motivated sentences, and policies that criminalize dissent. He urged them to play their role in defending human rights, political freedoms, and justice.
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