Advocate Syed Iqbal Shah, who appeared as a state-appointed defence counsel in the case involving Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah Jee, has been appointed as Additional Advocate General for Khuzdar.
According to an official notification issued by the Government of Balochistan under Section 3 of the Provincial Law Officers Ordinance 2001, the appointment was made with the approval of Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and will remain effective for a period of one year.
The notification states that the position carries a monthly retainer of Rs80,000, a non-practising allowance of Rs200,000, residential and travel allowances amounting to Rs20,000, an official vehicle with an additional monthly allocation, as well as telephone, medical and other government-provided benefits.
The development has drawn criticism from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which noted that its leadership had publicly boycotted the court proceedings and declined to appoint legal representation in the case. Despite this, Syed Iqbal Shah appeared before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta as a state-appointed defence lawyer and participated in the proceedings on behalf of the accused.
Last month, the court sentenced Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah Jee to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of Frontier Corps personnel Shabbir Ahmed during the July 2024 Baloch Raaji Muchi gathering in Gwadar.
The BYC, along with some of its supporters, lawyers and political figures, has alleged that Syed Iqbal Shah’s appointment as Additional Advocate General for Khuzdar was linked to his role in the case. The government has not commented on these claims, and no evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate the allegation.
The appointment comes amid continuing debate over the trial and sentencing of the two BYC leaders, which has also drawn criticism from a number of human rights organisations and political groups that have raised concerns regarding due process and fair trial standards.