Karachi: Two Baloch activists, Mahrang Baloch and Sibghat Ullah Shah Jee, have been sentenced to life imprisonment by Quetta’s Anti-Terrorism Court following a secret trial. The court found them guilty of involvement in a 2024 protest that resulted in the death of a security officer. The trial, held on jail premises, has raised significant concerns over the transparency and fairness of the judicial process, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations.

According to Amnesty International, the trial of Baloch and Shah Jee was expedited and conducted without adhering to international fair trial standards, leaving serious gaps in due process. No direct evidence linked the activists to the alleged violence during the protest, yet the court proceeded with the life sentences. This case highlights the broader issue of Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws being used to stifle dissent, as argued by Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia.

The activists, members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, have been in detention since March 2025, facing numerous anti-terrorism charges. Their trial was marked by a boycott from the activists, who cited a denial of fair trial rights and bias from the presiding judge. They were represented by a state-appointed counsel towards the end of the trial, who reportedly did not consult them. The judgement has been criticized for implicating Mahrang Baloch based on her speeches during the protests, while Shah Jee was accused of being part of a crowd that confronted the security officer.

The international community, including Amnesty International, is calling for the immediate release of the activists, arguing that their imprisonment is a targeted response to their human rights advocacy in Balochistan. The organization demands that all charges related to their activism be dropped, emphasizing the need for a more transparent and fair legal process in Pakistan.