QUETTA: Dr Mahrang Baloch, chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was handed two life terms in a terrorism case involving the killing of an FC man during violent protests in Gwadar in July 2024.

Judge Muhammad Ali Mubeen of ATC-1 delivered the verdict on Monday, finding both Mahrang and another leader Sibghatullah guilty of the murder of Shabbir Ahmed, and other terrorism-related offences.

Since the BYC chief organiser and the other leader were active participants in the gathering and shared a common intent, they were guilty of intentional murder, the court ruled.

Under Sections 302(b), 147, and 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code, both were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay compensation of Rs200,000 each to the victim’s heirs. Failure to pay the compensation would result in an additional six months’ imprisonment.

The court held that their active participation in the BYC gathering fell within the definition of terrorism under Section 6 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Consequently, both were convicted under Section 7(a) of the Act and sentenced to another life term along with a fine of Rs200,000 each.

The court ordered that both life sentences would run concurrently.

The court stated that both accused were given multiple opportunities to attend the legal proceedings, but they refused to participate even through video link.

The court noted that a state-appointed defence lawyer had been assigned to represent them, but the accused declined to consult with him. It held that the accused’s deliberate non-participation could not justify delaying or suspending the proceedings.

The BYC and her family described the verdict as “political and judicial repression, aimed at suppressing public resistance.”

While acknowledging a delay of around seven hours in FIR registration, the court ruled it was natural in the circumstances and did not render the prosecution’s case doubtful.

It observed that the BYC is neither a registered political party nor an organisation recognised under any legal framework. While Article 16 of the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, the court stated that this right is subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law and that an assembly loses legal protection when it ceases to remain peaceful.

According to the court, FC personnel were performing official duties, but were publicly described by the BYC as “occupiers and openly treated as enemies and targets of attack”.

Therefore, it noted, such a gathering could not enjoy legal protection and its actions fell within the scope of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The incident occurred in July 2024 when the Baloch Yakjehti Committee announced a gathering in Gwadar called the ‘Baloch Raji Muchi’.

A day before the event, highways were blocked in several districts to prevent convoys from reaching Gwadar, resulting in clashes between protesters and security forces at various locations.

In a statement on X, Balochistan chief minister Sarfraz Bugti hailed the decision, saying that after two years of legal struggle, the government of Balochistan’s stance has been vindicated and justice has finally been served to the martyr Shabbir Baloch.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026