Balochistan activist's life sentence raises fear of unrest
Key takeaways
- With the conviction of a leading rights campaigner, Pakistan has drawn criticism from rights groups and sparked fears it could deepen unrest in Balochistan and weaken trust in peaceful activism.
- Mahrang Baloch, 33, is a prominent campaigner against alleged enforced disappearances in Balochistan and leader of the Balochistan Unity Committee (BYC).
- Baloch's lawyer, Israr Jattak, said the activists would appeal the verdict.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
With the conviction of a leading rights campaigner, Pakistan has drawn criticism from rights groups and sparked fears it could deepen unrest in Balochistan and weaken trust in peaceful activism.
https://p.dw.com/p/5G6xa A trained doctor turned activist, Mahrang Baloch was convicted of inciting a crowd leading to the death of a Pakistani soldier Image: AFPAdvertisement A Pakistani anti-terrorism court this week sentenced two civil rights activists to life imprisonment over the killing of a paramilitary soldier during a July 2024 protest.
Mahrang Baloch, 33, is a prominent campaigner against alleged enforced disappearances in Balochistan and leader of the Balochistan Unity Committee (BYC). On June 25, she was convicted of murder and terrorism alongside fellow activist Sibghatullah Shahji. Both activists boycotted the trial and have denied the charges against them.