UN experts condemned on Wednesday the sentencing of Pakistani human rights defender Mahrang Baloch to two terms of life imprisonment by a court in Quetta, Pakistan, describing the verdict as a “travesty” of justice.

The experts stated that Baloch’s conviction and life sentence represented a misuse of counter-terrorism laws that aimed to suppress human rights activism and freedom of association. The experts also highlighted that Baloch was subjected to an unfair trial that disregarded the fundamental rights of the accused, such as the right to attend the trial in person and the right to appoint a legal counsel.

Relatedly, the UN stressed that the right to a fair trial is protected by international law, including Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as well as Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and they urged Pakistan to prevent the misuse of counter terrorism laws to restrict individuals’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Additionally, UN experts noted that states have a duty to protect populations from human rights abuses related to investment projects affecting local communities. On the other hand, companies have an obligation to respect human rights due diligence as required by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Mahrang Baloch is a human rights activist and leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) who advocates for the rights of the Baloch community in Pakistan. She was convicted alongside another BYC member for the death of a Frontier Corps member during a protest condemning discrimination, enforced disappearances, and unlawful appropriation of local communities’ lands for mining and foreign investment projects back in July 2024.

According to the court, both BYC members had a common intent to murder the Frontier Corps officer, classifying their conduct as terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Pakistan has previously faced criticism from international organisations for human rights abuses against human rights activists. In 2025, Amnesty International called on Pakistan to cease its crackdown on Baloch activists following the arrest of several BYC members, including Mahrang Baloch. In January 2026, a Pakistani court sentenced two human rights lawyers to prison for controversial social media posts calling for support for arrested BYC activists, which was condemned by the UN. The UN also expressed concern about the detention conditions of Pakistani activist Idris Khattak and the broader compliance of authorities with prisoners’ rights.