The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) said on Wednesday that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had admitted for hearing three bail petitions concerning detained BYC leaders, while the Balochistan High Court had accepted for hearing the appeal filed against the life sentences handed down to Dr Mahrang Baloch and Shahji Sibghatullah.
In a statement issued to the media, the BYC said the Balochistan High Court had also issued notices to the parties in the criminal appeal against the sentences.
The BYC said the cases against its leaders had already seen justice “distorted in every possible way” by an Anti-Terrorism Court through what it described as a “faceless trial”.
It added bail applications had been rejected, life sentences had been imposed “without any evidence” in one case, and several other cases were still being heard through the same process.
“These cases, in which the right to justice was denied, are now under hearing in the High Court and the Supreme Court,” the BYC said.
The BYC said it hoped the proceedings in both courts would move forward with complete impartiality and in accordance with the constitution, the law and the principles of justice.
It said it expected the Balochistan High Court to “soon annul” what it called the unlawful life sentences and uphold justice, while it expected the Supreme Court to respect the constitutional right to bail and approve the pending bail appeals of the detained leaders.
The committee said it would continue its democratic and constitutional struggle on every forum, adding that its purpose was not merely to seek justice as an abstract demand, but to expose, through its actions, every institution that stands in the way of justice.
“Today’s unjust judicial decisions are not unjust only because they disagree with the BYC, but because they are unjust for the ordinary public as well,” the statement said.
The BYC said the repeated denial of justice had exposed the condition of the justice system itself, adding that “neither the constitution is being treated with justice nor merit”.
Addressing judges, the BYC said its struggle was “for generations” and urged the courts to make decisions that strengthen the pursuit of justice.
“We also say this to the judges sitting in the courts: the BYC’s struggle is for generations. By sentencing these leaders, you are also deceiving your own generations. In the pursuit of justice, play your role in strengthening this generational struggle by making the right decision,” the BYC statement said.
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Mahrang Baloch, Sibghatullah Shahji Sentenced to Life Imprisonment; BYC Rejects Verdict
Political Leaders, Journalists and Activists Condemn Life Sentences Against BYC Leaders