FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) Condemns Shameful Life Sentence for Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah by Pakistani Authorities
The Hague, The Netherlands – June 23, 2026 – The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) expresses its strongest condemnation regarding the reprehensible life sentence handed down by a Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court to prominent human rights defender Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her colleague, Sibghatullah Shah .
This verdict is a blatant miscarriage of justice and a devastating blow to the rule of law in Pakistan. Dr. Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has been a fearless and peaceful voice for the Baloch people, courageously campaigning against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state repression in Balochistan . Her only crime is her dedication to exposing grave human rights violations .
The IHRF is deeply alarmed by the egregious procedural irregularities and denial of due process that characterized this “secret trial” . A proceeding that denies the accused the right to effectively cross-examine witnesses or present a proper defense, held in a “faceless court” on jail premises, cannot be considered a legitimate judicial process . This is not justice; it is a politically motivated weaponization of the judicial system to silence dissent and intimidate human rights defenders .
We echo the calls of Amnesty International and other international bodies, who have condemned this verdict as an affront to the right to a fair trial . The state’s cynical misuse of anti-terrorism laws to prosecute peaceful activism represents a dangerous escalation in the crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Pakistan .
The IHRF urges the Government of Pakistan to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah, and to ensure their safety and well-being.
We call upon the international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, to:
1. Denounce this injustice and place Pakistan under close scrutiny for its escalating human rights violations.
2. Demand transparency in all legal proceedings against human rights defenders and a full investigation into the circumstances of this case.
3. Pressure Pakistani authorities to cease the persecution of peaceful activists and uphold their international obligations regarding due process and fundamental rights.
The IHRF stands in solidarity with Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sibghatullah Shah, and all peaceful activists in Pakistan who risk their lives for justice and human dignity.
چہرہ گواہ ہے کہ یہ جنت کا پھول تھا۔ 💔
ہجیرہ سے تعلق رکھنے والے فیضان عنایت جو کل راولاکوٹ دھرنے میں #ش ہ ی د ہوۓ تھے۔اللہ پاک ان کی شہادت کو قبول فرمائے، ان کے درجات بلند کرے اور جنت الفردوس میں اعلیٰ مقام عطا فرمائے۔ آمین یارب العالمین 🤲
Global human rights must apply to everyone, everywhere. Why the silence on Kashmir? @BBCWorld we urge you to investigate the ground realities and expose the ongoing atrocities against innocent Kashmiris. #Kashmir#HumanRights#HearKashmir@AJEnglish
The world speaks up for global human rights, but meets Kashmir's plight with deafening silence. Human rights must never be selective. @BBCWorld, we urge you to break the silence, investigate ground realities, and voice the truth of oppressed Kashmiris.#HumanRights@JAAC__Official
یہ سفید جھنڈے کمزوری نہیں، بلکہ کشمیریوں کے امن پسند ہونے کی دلیل ہیں، اور ان بچوں کا جوش گواہی ہے کہ تحریکِ آزادی کشمیر نسل در نسل منتقل ہو رہی ہے۔ ظلم کا اندھیرا چھٹے گا، صبحِ آزادی ضرور آئے گی! ☀️☝️
#KashmirBleeds#KashmirFreedom#LetKashmirBreathe
بتا تجھے یہ اذیتیں کہاں سے ملتی ہیں
یہ جبر کی سب رعایتیں کہاں سے ملتی ہیں
ایمان مزاری کے خلاف ریاست کا رویہ انصاف نہیں بلکہ جبر ہے۔ہائی کورٹ کے احکامات کے باوجود گرفتاری اس بات کا ثبوت ہے کہ مقصد صرف تھکانا اور خاموش کروانا ہے۔لیکن سچ کی آواز کبھی نہیں تھکتی
#ReleaseImaanAndHadi
The relentless pursuit of Imaan Mazari & Hadi Ali isn’t law; it’s a war of attrition. Intercepted en route to court despite IHC orders—it’s clear the goal is to exhaust and stifle dissent. We stand in solidarity with those who refuse to be silenced. ✊⚖️ #ReleaseImaanAndHadi
The Islamabad High Court has granted protective bail to human rights lawyer @ImaanZHazir & @AdvHadiali in the latest case dating back to July 2025.This follows a tense standoff where the couple spent nights at the IHC Bar office to avoid arrest #HumanRights#StandWithImaanMazari
The cycle of "serial litigation" against @ImaanZHazir and @AdvHadiali must end. Using decades-old or "resurfaced" cases to harass human rights defenders undermines the judicial system. Legal battles should be fought in court,not through intimidation tactics
#StandWithImaanMazari
میں حیران ہوں کے دنیا کے نقشے میں ایک ایسی قوم آباد ہے جس کا قومی ترانہ فارسی میں اور قومی زبان اردو جس کا قانون انگریزی میں اور مذہب عربی میں ہے ڈرامے ترکی کے,فلمیں ہندوستانی,خواہشات یورپین,سوچ دندانہ,حرکات جاہلانہ, اور خواب مکہ مکرمہ میں دفن ہونے کے.
#اسلامی_جمہوریہ_پاکستان