Pakistan court sentences Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment; Greta Thunberg condemns verdict
Mahrang Baloch. (Photo: X/@IHRF_English)
New Delhi: Prominent Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch has been sentenced to life imprisonment by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, along with fellow campaigner Sibghatullah. The court came to the verdict after hearing the case in connection with the death of a paramilitary soldier during a July 2024 protest in Gwadar.
The court held the two activists responsible for offences linked to terrorism and murder, and concluded that violence during the demonstration led to the death of security personnel deployed at the site. Authorities in Balochistan welcomed the ruling, saying it reinforces the state’s position that attacks on law enforcement officials will be dealt with under anti-terrorism laws.
Mahrang has risen as one of the most recognizable voices from Balochistan in recent years, drawing attention to cases of missing persons and allegations of abuses in the restive province. She has remained in custody since March 2025.
According to Pakistani media reports, her legal team has announced plans to challenge the verdict before the higher judiciary, while supporters of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) have denounced the judgment and called for protests across the province.
Critics of the case argue that the proceedings lacked transparency and could deepen mistrust between the Baloch population and the Pakistani state.
Greta Thunberg calls verdict a blow to peaceful dissent
Reacting to the court’s decision, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg voiced support for Mahrang Baloch and questioned the handling of the case. In a statement, Greta said Mahrang had spent years peacefully advocating for families of the disappeared, speaking out against alleged extrajudicial killings and demanding justice for the people of Balochistan.
She said Mahrang was arrested during a peaceful sit-in in Quetta in March 2025 and remained in detention for more than a year while facing what she described as politically motivated charges.
Greta also raised concerns over the conduct of the trial, alleging that proceedings were held inside a high-security prison and away from public scrutiny. She said the case raised serious questions about transparency.
