KABUL (Pajhwok): Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Baloch activists Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah Jee, who have been sentenced to life imprisonment following a trial.
The prosecution alleged that the two played a role in inciting protesters, but they have rejected the charges and said they will appeal the verdict.
Amnesty International said the proceedings did not meet fair trial standards and raised serious concerns over human rights violations.
The rights group said several Baloch activists, including the two convicted individuals, were sentenced after trials held inside prison without access to media or independent observers.
It added that Pakistani authorities are using anti-terrorism laws to suppress peaceful dissent and reiterated its demand for their immediate and unconditional release.
Reacting to the life sentences handed down by Quetta’s Anti-Terrorism Court to Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah Jee on 22 June over their alleged involvement in a 2024 protest during which a security officer was killed, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia, Isabelle Lassee, said:
“This verdict, which is an affront to the right to a fair trial, demonstrates how Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws are being cynically misused to silence peaceful dissent. The conviction and sentence followed an expedited secret trial conducted on jail premises, during which serious concerns were raised over international fair trial standards and due process. No direct evidence was presented linking Mahrang and Shah Jee to the alleged violence.
“It also comes after a prolonged period of unlawful detention. Mahrang was arrested in March 2025 following a peaceful sit-in and later charged with over two dozen anti-terrorism cases filed across Pakistan. These cases were so numerous that it was difficult for her lawyers to keep track of them, let alone provide meaningful legal representation.
Amnesty International also expressed concern over the health conditions of some detained activists, saying they have been facing serious medical issues after more than a year in custody without adequate medical care.
The organization urged the Pakistani government to ensure fair trials and respect the fundamental rights of the detainees.
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