Quetta ATC finds BYC's Mahrang, another leader guilty in 2024 case

An anti-terrorism court in Quetta has found Mahrang Baloch, chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, and another group leader guilty in a case involving the death of a security personnel during a protest in Gwadar in 2024 that turned violent.

ATC Quetta-1 Judge Muhammad Ali Mobeen heard the case pertaining to the death of a Frontier Corps (FC) personnel who died as a result of injuries received from a mob pelting stones. BYC’s Mahrang, Sibghatullah Shahji and others were nominated in the case.

After completing the hearing, the court announced the verdict on Monday, handing life sentences to Mahrang and Sibghatullah, the former’s lawyer Israr Jattak told the media.

A written verdict is yet to be released.

“The judge of the ATC Quetta has awarded a life term to Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah Ji in the murder case of FC personnel,” Jattak said.

While the exact details of the case are unclear, BYC protesters had clashed with security personnel in Gwadar on July 29, 2024 as the organisation gathered for the Baloch Rajee Muchi (Baloch National Gathering).

In separate clashes at the Talar check-post and on the Marine Drive, three people had lost their lives and 10 were injured.

A day before that, as protesters made their way to Gwadar, a press note issued by the deputy commissioner of Kalat stated that participants of the BYC march had attacked a Levies checkpoint near Mastung and resorted to “extreme violence”.

“The security forces stopped the rally three kilometres outside Mastung for negotiations. However, an armed mob which was waiting for the marchers in Mastung city opened fired on personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC). Two FC personnel and four civilians were injured,” the note said.

Mahrang and Sibghatullah have been in jail for the last two years in multiple cases.

Dr Mahrang was initially arrested on March 22 last year and detained under the Balochistan Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for 30 days.

This detention was successively extended for two further periods of 30 days each. Before the expiry of the third detention order, she was taken into custody in connection with another case.

Following their detention under the MPO, cases were also registered against Mahrang and other BYC leaders under different sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code.

While the BYC is not listed among banned organisations by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), Mahrang is included on its list of proscribed persons.

Constitutional petitions seeking the release of Mahrang and two other activists were rejected by the Balochistan High Court (BHC) in May 2025. They were challenged in the Supreme Court later.