A Pakistani court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on bail applications filed by several detained activists from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), lawyers and the group said..
The Balochistan High Court heard arguments from both the defence and the prosecution in the case involving Dr Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Sebghatullah Shah Ji and Bebarg Baloch, before announcing that a decision would be issued at a later date.
Defence lawyers said they were hopeful the court would grant bail to the activists.
In a statement, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee said the defence had presented its arguments in full, while alleging that prosecutors failed to present concrete evidence to justify the continued detention of the group’s leaders.
The group said any delay or denial of relief in the absence of evidence would deepen concerns that legal processes were being used to suppress political dissent in Balochistan.
The activists were initially detained under a public order law that allows preventive detention. Authorities later registered additional cases against them under anti-terrorism and criminal laws, and their detention has been extended multiple times in recent months.