A lawyer representing detained Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders has expressed a lack of confidence in the Balochistan High Court, accusing judges of favouring the government over justice.
During a bail hearing on Tuesday, senior advocate Sajid Tareen appeared before a two-member bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ejaz Swati and Justice Amir Rana. Tareen told the court that it was “facilitating the government” and declared that he had “no faith in this bench.”
“The court has already extended enough facilitation to the government,” he said. “I no longer have any faith in this bench. I do not want to be part of this charade where the court is granting relief to the government instead of dispensing justice.”
The court warned him of possible contempt proceedings, to which Tareen responded, “Go ahead.”
He also criticised the state’s handling of the case, arguing that his clients were initially detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), but are now being prosecuted under new First Information Reports (FIRs)—a move he said violates due legal process.
“Both judges are preparing their CVs,” Tareen added, accusing the bench of prioritising personal career goals over impartial judgment. “If this court cannot deliver justice, then there is no reason to remain here.”
Tareen is representing several senior BYC leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, ShaJi Sibghatullah, Bebarg Baloch, and Gulzadi Baloch. They were arrested during a protest sit-in in Quetta in March and have remained in custody for more than two months.
The detainees have been charged with terrorism, sedition, and murder—allegations that have been widely condemned by rights groups as “politically motivated.”
In March, a group of United Nations experts called on Pakistan to immediately release detained Baloch human rights defenders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch, and to end its crackdown on peaceful protest movements.
In April, over a dozen UN human rights experts issued a joint statement expressing concern over Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures in Balochistan, warning that the government is “conflating legitimate human rights advocacy with terrorism.”