Islamabad: Serious questions are being raised about the use of anti-terrorism laws in Pakistan against political opponents, human rights activists, and dissenting voices. A recent report from the U.S.-based research institution, The Jamestown Foundation, warns that the life sentence handed to Baloch human rights leader Dr. Mahrang Baloch could be a sign of the growing trend of labeling political dissent as terrorism in Pakistan.
According to an analysis published in The Jamestown Foundation’s journal Terrorism Monitor, on June 22, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta sentenced Dr. Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment on charges of terrorism and murder. However, the report states that the court did not present any evidence directly linking her to the relevant killings.
The report notes that this case was related to violent incidents during a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee in Gwadar in July 2024. During that protest, three people were killed in clashes between security personnel and demonstrators.
According to analyst Andrea Sireno, Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s sentence could further deepen the already existing distrust between the Pakistani government and the Baloch people.
The report explains that the Baloch Yakjehti Committee is a non-armed human rights movement that has consistently demanded justice for enforced disappearances, alleged human rights violations in Balochistan, and support for affected families.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s political and social activism began after the enforced disappearance of her father, Ghaffar Baloch Langove, in 2011. She later led protest movements for students’ rights, educational opportunities, and against enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
According to The Jamestown Foundation’s report, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Shah Ji Sabghatullah Baloch, and other leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee were sentenced under the Anti-Terrorism Act and various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, even though the Baloch Yakjehti Committee was not included in the list of banned organizations by Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority.
The report expresses concern that this case could set a new precedent for using Pakistan’s anti-terrorism legal framework to suppress peaceful political and human rights movements.
The analysis also references actions against former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. According to the report, the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi sentenced 47 PTI members in terrorism cases, raising further questions about the distinction between political activities and terrorism-related laws.
The report states that the cases of both Imran Khan and Dr. Mahrang Baloch raise concerns about the potential political misuse of anti-terrorism laws in Pakistan.
According to The Jamestown Foundation, the action against Dr. Mahrang Baloch could mark a significant turning point in Pakistan’s strategy in Balochistan, where dissenting voices are feared to be curtailed not only through military operations but also through judicial and legal processes.
The analysis concludes that if the legal boundaries between political dissent, human rights activism, and terrorism remain unclear, it could lead to further challenges for civil liberties, political rights, and democratic dissent in Pakistan.
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