Balochistan High Court to Hear Dr. Mahrang Baloch's Appeal Against Life Sentence
The Balochistan High Court (BHC) has accepted for regular hearing a petition filed by Dr. Mahrang Baloch, chief organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), challenging her life imprisonment sentence. A division bench, comprising Justices Gul Hassan Tareen and Najmuddin Mengal, issued notices to the respondents, including the provincial government represented by Additional Advocate General Akbar Shah. Dr. Baloch's legal team, advocates Jadain Dashti and Nadia Baloch, are contesting the Quetta anti-terrorism court's ruling in a case linked to the killing of a security personnel member. The life sentence remains active pending further court proceedings. In a separate but related development, the Supreme Court has also issued notices to respondents concerning Dr. Mahrang's post-arrest bail denial in a case registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. A three-judge bench, led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, reviewed cases filed by Dr. Baloch and other BYC leaders, Beebow Baloch and Beebarg Baloch. Advocate Jibran Nasir informed the court that separate First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against each of the three individuals, and that all charges in the FIRs were bailable. He also noted that two out of six witnesses had provided testimony in Dr. Mahrang's case.
This legal challenge highlights the ongoing tension between state security apparatus and civil society activism in Balochistan. The admission of Dr. Mahrang Baloch's appeal by the High Court signifies a procedural step toward judicial review of the anti-terrorism court's conviction. The Supreme Court's involvement in the bail plea, coupled with the lawyer's assertion of bailable charges, suggests potential avenues for legal recourse. Future proceedings will likely scrutinize the evidence presented and the application of anti-terrorism laws, particularly concerning the proportionality of sentences and due process. The outcome could influence the broader landscape of human rights advocacy and legal frameworks governing dissent in the region.
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