Pakistan court sentences BYC leader Mahrang Baloch to life over 'killing of security official'

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment on Monday over the killing of a security official during protests in Balochistan.

The court in Quetta convicted Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and co-accused Sibghatullah in connection with the death of security official Shabbir during a demonstration in Gwadar in 2024.

What was Mahrang Baloch sentenced for?

Baloch was convicted over the death of a security official who prosecutors say was fatally injured after being struck by stones thrown during clashes between protesters and security forces in Gwadar.

The trial was conducted online, with both defendants appearing from District Jail Quetta. The court handed down life sentences to both the accused.

What triggered the Gwadar protests in 2024?

The case stems from unrest on 28 July 2024, when protests, sit-ins and roadblocks spread across Balochistan following a security crackdown on a BYC-led gathering in Gwadar.

The unrest disrupted transport links and cut off parts of the province from the rest of the country. Demonstrators rallied against what they described as enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch activists.

Clashes at Gwadar's Marine Drive left at least one soldier and three protesters dead over several days, according to officials and local media. Both sides blamed each other for the violence.

Who is Mahrang Baloch and what charges did she face?

Baloch, 32, was arrested in March 2025 under orders from Quetta's deputy commissioner. She has faced multiple charges, including terrorism, sedition and murder linked to anti-state protests.

The BYC condemned her arrest as a brutal pre-dawn crackdown by security forces, saying three of its supporters were killed during the operation.

What is the Baloch Yakjehti Committee?

The BYC, founded in 2018, has become one of the leading rights groups in Balochistan, organizing demonstrations against what it describes as state repression in the mineral-rich but insurgency-hit province.

Pakistan's government has long accused Baloch separatist groups and their sympathizers of fueling unrest in the region with India's support. Insurgents have waged a decades-long campaign for greater autonomy and control over natural resources.