KARACHI: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi granted bail to Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch in a case registered under terrorism and sedition charges, despite strong opposition from the state prosecutor.
In this regard, Dr Baloch, who remains in police custody on physical remand extended for another 15 days by an ATC in Quetta earlier this week, was arrested on March 22 for allegedly attacking the Quetta Civil Hospital and inciting violence.
In this sense, the prosecutor strongly objected to the bail plea, arguing that the accused had spread anti-state propaganda, incited hatred against national institutions, and attempted to create public unrest.
Furthermore, the BYC chief was booked in a terrorism case on the complaint of a local resident in Quaidabad, Karachi, who alleged that she had incited violence in the area.
However, the court noted that the complainant neither appeared before the court nor presented independent witnesses to corroborate the allegations. The investigating officer also failed to include local testimonies or provide reasons for a 10-month delay in submitting the report.
The judge observed that these procedural gaps created grounds for further inquiry, leading to the bail decision.
The court granted bail against a surety bond of Rs100,000, while noting that the accused remains in custody under separate remand orders.
Mahrang Baloch was earlier detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), which allows preventive detention of individuals deemed a threat to public safety. Several additional cases have since been lodged against her under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code.
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Meanwhile, critics argue that despite facing multiple charges, Dr Baloch and her group have consistently attempted to undermine state authority under the guise of activism.
