Mahrang Baloch Sentencing: A Detailed Q&A with Human Rights Lawyer Tania Bazai
An In-Depth Discussion on Justice, Constitutional Rights, and the Recent Life Imprisonment Verdict
Host: What Led to Mahrang Baloch’s Arrest?
Tania Bazai: She was given considerable freedom for many years, but the situation deteriorated significantly after the Jaffar Express attack. When she went to the Civil Hospital to collect the bodies of alleged terrorists, she created chaos. She set fire to an ambulance, assaulted female nurses, and raised BLA slogans inside the hospital, which sparked widespread violence. Later, during a protest in Gwadar against a Chinese delegation visit, she continued her inflammatory activities despite warnings from the Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bukti. This eventually led to the tragic death of FC personnel Shabbir Baloch, who was mercilessly stoned to death during these protests.
Host: What are the Specific Charges Against Her?
Tania Bazai: The charges are quite serious and numerous. She faced charges under Section 3 Maintenance of Public Order (MP0), but the primary convictions are under two major sections. First, there’s sedition under Section 124A, for which she already received a three-year sentence. However, the more serious charge is under Section 302, which pertains to murder. This is a heinous crime with no forgiveness under Pakistani law. Under this section, the punishment can be life imprisonment, 25 years imprisonment, or capital punishment. Her life sentence was imposed under this particular section.
Q: Why did the court proceed with faceless trials, and what justifies this approach?
Tania Bazai: This is a critical question because many people misunderstand this decision. The answer lies in security concerns specific to Balochistan. Two former Chief Justices of the Balochistan High Court—Noor Mohammad Maskanzai and Mohammad Nawaz Muri—were both martyred for handling cases related to missing persons and cases against terrorist organizations. One was killed on Zargoon Road, and another while performing Sajdah during prayer. If even the Chief Justices of the High Court aren’t safe, what about judges, prosecutors, and their families? The faceless proceedings were initiated at the request of the judiciary itself, not as an oppressive measure. This protects judicial officers from retaliation by terrorist organizations.
Host: Is There a Constitutional Right to Protest Violently?
Tania Bazai: Yes, the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and protest. However, this right has clear boundaries. When you incite violence, spread riots, cause harm to public property, attack ambulances, set fires, and result in deaths, you’re violating the very foundation of this right. The Constitution protects peaceful dissent, not violence. What occurred during these protests crossed the line from legitimate activism into criminal behavior. When people are martyred and public property is destroyed, it’s no longer peaceful assembly—it becomes insurrection.
Host : There’s been discussion about Mahrang’s family background. Can you clarify this?
Tania Bazai: First, regarding her name: She is Mahrang Langove, not Mahrang Baloch. The surname “Baloch” was adopted to capitalize on the political sentiment around Balochistan’s issues. The Langove are Brohi people, not Baloch. By using the “Baloch” identity, she leveraged the narrative around Balochistan, missing persons, and deprivation to gain prominence and international support. This rebranding was strategic. Additionally, her father, Ghaffar Langove, was a terrorist who openly admitted to killing numerous Punjabis. Despite this background, the Pakistani state provided her with education, scholarships, and even government employment—benefits she didn’t deserve given her family’s terrorist connections.
Host: How did the international community and human rights organizations react?
Tania Bazai: This is where it becomes interesting. Many international human rights organizations and media outlets have portrayed her as a champion for human rights and missing persons. However, I must emphasize that many of these organizations are politically motivated and funded. Some are even supported by foreign intelligence agencies with agendas against Pakistan. Their selective focus on Balochistan while ignoring human rights violations elsewhere reveals their bias. When diplomats from certain countries interfere in judicial matters and Supreme Court proceedings, it violates diplomatic protocols. Wecannot blindly accept narratives pushed by international actors with hidden agendas.
Host: Do you believe we’ll see similar figures emerge in the future?
Tania Bazai: I don’t think another figure like Mahrang will emerge at the same level of prominence. The phenomenon was specific to a particular political moment when she received protection from the previous regime. Historically, similar activists like Karima Baloch met tragic ends—she was killed in Canada. These individuals often face severe consequences. While there may be others attempting activism, none have achieved Mahrang’s level of influence. Additionally, the public response to her sentencing has been telling—despite predictions of mass protests and road closures, there were none. This suggests that only a small, primarily online contingent, often comprising paid accounts and foreign-based groups, supports such narratives.
Host: What was Sibghatullah Baloch’s role, and why did he also receive a life sentence?
Tania Bazai: Sibghatullah was an active member of the Baloch Youth Council and was always alongside Mahrang in these activities. He claimed his son was missing and raised voices about it. However, the reality is that his son joined terrorist organizations and went into hiding in mountainous areas. These groups often eliminate their own members over minor disputes. Sibghatullah used his son’s case to gain political leverage and protest against the state, which was manipulative activism rather than genuine human rights work.
