Leading Pakistan activist given life sentence over soldier's killing at rally

A leading human rights activist who has spent years campaigning against enforced disappearances in the Pakistani province of Balochistan has been sentenced to life in prison over the killing of a paramilitary soldier at a rally in 2024. Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Balochistan Unity Committee (BYC), was convicted of murder and terrorism alongside fellow activist Sibghatullah. Prosecutors accused the pair of inciting a mob which fatally attacked paramilitary soldier Shabbir Ahmed. The activists, who boycotted the trial along with their legal team, deny the charges. A security official had accused Baloch of giving a "very provocative speech" at the protest in the port city of Gwadar, resulting in 30-40 people striking one of his soldiers' vehicles with sticks and stones. The official claimed Shabbir Ahmed became separated from the others and was beaten to death. An anti-terrorism court in Quetta said Baloch and Sibghatullah had been "active in the illegal gathering of the Baloch Unity Committee and had common objectives in the murder of the Federal Constabulary official". It sentenced them to life imprisonment and ordered they pay a fine of 200,000 Pakistani rupees (£543; $719) to Ahmed's heirs. Baloch and Sibghatullah have already been in jail for two years on a range of charges, according to local media. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan called for an immediate review of the verdict. …