KARACHI — A Karachi anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday acquitted Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch in a high-profile sedition and terrorism case filed against her last year, ruling that the prosecution failed to present any credible evidence.
Mahrang had been charged by Quaidabad police on October 11, 2024, under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly inciting public disorder and making accusations against state institutions. After nearly a year of proceedings, ATC Judge Ayaz Mustafa Jokhio allowed her acquittal plea, filed by Advocate Jibran Nasir.
“I am of the view that there is no probability of the accused being convicted of any offence,” the court order stated. “I hereby allow this application and acquit the accused, Mst. Mahrang Baloch, d/o Abdul Ghaffar.”
The court acquitted her under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code, which empowers courts to clear an accused at any stage of the case if evidence is insufficient. Mahrang appeared via video link from Quetta Prison, where she remains detained in connection with other pending cases — meaning she will not be released despite the Karachi acquittal.
Court finds no evidence, cites witness failures and delayed investigation
In his detailed order, Judge Jokhio highlighted serious flaws in the prosecution’s case. He noted that no independent witness had been presented, and that the five witnesses listed by the investigating officer were all police officials — none of whom had any direct knowledge of the alleged incident.
The judge further observed that in their statements under Section 161 CrPC, the witnesses had “not stated a single word” supporting the allegations. He added that during the investigation, the IO failed to involve local witnesses or question residents of the area where the alleged incident occurred.
Another major irregularity cited was the unexplained ten-month delay between the registration of the FIR in October 2024 and the filing of the challan in August 2025. The judge criticised the prosecution for expecting the court to entertain “weak, deficient, and inadmissible” evidence despite the backlog of cases before ATCs.
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He also noted that the complainant repeatedly failed to appear in court despite directives to police to produce him.
Mahrang calls case ‘fabricated’
Reacting to the decision, Mahrang said the case was “fabricated” and reflected how “the state had grown increasingly uncomfortable” with her activism. The FIR, filed by a resident named Asad Ali Shams, accused her of inciting violence, promoting enmity, and maintaining links with terrorist groups in Balochistan — claims she has consistently denied.
The FIR included charges under Section 7 of the ATA as well as sedition, rioting, defamation, and public mischief clauses.
“In this regard, the complainant has not produced any independent witnesses, which prove his contention,” the judge observed in Mahrang’s acquittal order.https://t.co/tNaIcWtgu9
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 3, 2025
Despite her acquittal, Mahrang remains incarcerated due to other cases lodged against her earlier this year. Her legal team says they will continue challenging the remaining charges.
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