Baloch Activist Condemns Life Sentences for BYC Leaders
Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch has strongly condemned the life imprisonment sentences handed down to Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shahji. In a video statement issued after the June 22 verdict of an Anti-Terrorism Court, she accused Pakistan's state institutions of using the judicial system to suppress peaceful political dissent in Balochistan.
Alleged Irregularities in Trial Proceedings
Sammi alleged that the proceedings against detained BYC members were marked by irregularities, including jail court hearings, repeated video-link appearances, and faceless trial procedures. She claimed the prosecution persistently pushed for a swift conviction, creating the impression that the outcome had been predetermined. According to Sammi, the case violated constitutional guarantees and the right to a fair trial.
Questions Over Murder Case Credibility
The activist questioned the credibility of the murder case used to convict the activists. She alleged that two contradictory FIRs existed regarding the same killing, with different dates mentioned for the victim's death. Sammi also asked why the state had kept BYC members imprisoned for nearly fifteen months before pursuing the murder charges and why authorities had initially relied on the Maintenance of Public Order (3 MPO) law to detain them.
Politically Motivated Suppression Alleged
According to Sammi, the prolonged detention and subsequent convictions reflected a politically motivated effort to silence voices demanding accountability for enforced disappearances and human rights violations across the region. She criticised Pakistani authorities for celebrating the convictions while thousands of cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and mutilated bodies remained unresolved. She argued that genuine justice could only exist if state officials and security personnel accused of abuses were held accountable in the same manner as political activists.
Verdict Called Darkest Chapter in Country's History
Calling the verdict "one of the darkest chapters in the country's history," Sammi argued that the case violated constitutional guarantees and the right to a fair trial. Describing the sentences as an attack on peaceful democratic struggle, she stated that the suppression of moderate political voices could further deepen tensions in Balochistan.
