Pakistan court sentences two activists to life over soldier’s death
10 reported
An anti-terrorism court in southwestern Pakistan has sentenced two human rights activists to life in prison for the 2024 death of a paramilitary soldier during a rally in Gwadar. Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah, leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), were convicted of terrorism, sedition and murder in the killing of Shabbir Baloch. The prosecution stated the activists incited a mob that attacked a security vehicle, seized the soldier, and beat him to death with sticks and bricks. The two activists denied the charges. The trial was initially held in Gwadar but later moved to a high-security prison in Quetta due to security concerns. The BYC has been accused by authorities of links to the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist group designated as a terrorist organization by Pakistan in 2006 and by the U.S. in 2025. The BYC has rejected the allegation, describing itself as a peaceful rights movement.
What’s reported
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan sentenced Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah to life in prison on Monday.
The sentence was for the 2024 death of paramilitary soldier Shabbir Baloch during a BYC-led protest in Gwadar.
The activists were convicted of terrorism, sedition and murder.
The prosecution said the activists incited a mob that attacked a security vehicle, seized the soldier, and beat him to death with sticks and bricks.
A police investigation found the pair played a direct role in mobilizing the crowd, which protested without permission.
Mahrang and Shah denied the charges.
The trial was moved from Gwadar to a high-security prison in Quetta due to security concerns.
Pakistan’s government alleges the BYC is a front for the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group.
The BLA was designated a terrorist organization by Pakistan in 2006 and by the U.S. in 2025.
The BYC has rejected the allegation, calling itself a peaceful rights movement.
Key figures
Mahrang Baloch: leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), sentenced to life in prison
Sibghatullah Shah: leader of the BYC, sentenced to life in prison
Shabbir Baloch: paramilitary soldier killed in 2024
Shahid Rind: spokesman for the provincial government in Balochistan
Sarfraz Bugti: Chief Minister of Balochistan
Sources: abcnews.com
