Pakistani court acquits rights activist Mahrang Baloch in sedition case

A Pakistani court on Wednesday acquitted prominent Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch of sedition and public mischief charges, although she remains in custody due to other pending cases.

The ruling was handed down by Karachi’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-V), which cleared Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), of allegations linked to inciting unrest and levelling claims against state institutions.

The BYC, founded in 2018, has campaigned against alleged human rights abuses and state violence in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.

Baloch had been arrested in March 2025 following an October 2024 complaint filed by Malir district police, accusing her of inciting public disorder through social and political statements.

The sedition charges were filed under multiple provisions of Pakistan’s Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act, including rioting, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between groups and defamation of public officials.

In its verdict, the court concluded there was no evidence to support the allegations against the accused.

Baloch appeared via video link from Quetta Prison, where she remains detained.

Advocate Jibran Nasir, who represented Baloch, said the acquittal highlights the misuse of state power against voices advocating for Baloch rights and the failure of civilian institutions to safeguard fundamental rights.

He added that the complainant against Baloch had previously been implicated in multiple cases, describing the initial filing as politically motivated.

Despite Wednesday’s ruling, Baloch is unlikely to be released immediately, as she faces additional legal cases pending in other jurisdictions.