International Desk: The Republic of Balochistan has strongly condemned the reported life imprisonment sentences awarded to Baloch political activists, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, describing the verdict as an act of “judicial terrorism” and alleging that Pakistan’s legal system has been used to suppress peaceful political dissent.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the group claimed that Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Court in Gwadar sentenced Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Balach Qadir, Sibghatullah Shah Ji and Abu Bakar Kalanchi to life imprisonment. It alleged that the activists had been engaged in peaceful political advocacy and human rights campaigns rather than any violent activities.

The statement further alleged that the verdict reflected political interference in Pakistan’s judicial system and accused authorities of targeting leaders associated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) for highlighting issues such as enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other alleged human rights violations in Balochistan.

Calling on the international community, human rights organisations and democratic governments to intervene, the Republic of Balochistan urged global institutions to seek the release of those it described as political prisoners and to take note of what it termed an escalating crackdown on peaceful activism.

Pakistan’s authorities had not responded to the allegations made in the statement at the time of the post.