A division bench of the Balochistan High Court has agreed to hear an appeal from Dr Mahrang Baloch, the chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, against a life sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court. The move opens a new legal front in a case that has drawn national attention to the treatment of political activists in the province. Main Developments Justices Gul Hassan Tareen and Najmuddin Mengal presided over the hearing and ordered notices to be sent to relevant authorities, requiring their formal response. Additional Advocate General Akbar Shah appeared for the provincial government, while advocates Jadain Dashti and Nadia Baloch argued on behalf of Dr Mahrang. The high court's admission of the petition means the case will now be examined on its merits, though the life sentence remains in effect unless the bench later suspends or overturns it. Read also: Balochistan Operation Death Toll Hits 126 as Abducted Bodies Found Background Dr Mahrang was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Quetta anti-terrorism court in a case linked to the killing of a security personnel member. She has consistently denied the charges and challenged the conviction as politically motivated. Separately, the Supreme Court has also taken up the matter, issuing notices to respondents after Dr Mahrang and two other BYC leaders—Beebow Baloch and Beebarg Baloch—were denied post-arrest bail under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. During that hearing, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked whether separate FIRs had been registered against each accused. Advocate Jibran Nasir confirmed that separate FIRs existed and noted that two of six witnesses had already testified in Dr Mahrang's case, adding that all charges in the FIRs were bailable. Why It Matters The case underscores the tension between the state's use of anti-terrorism laws and the rights of political activists in Balochistan. A life sentence for a doctor and civil society leader has amplified concerns about judicial fairness and the scope of security legislation in the province. The high court's willingness to hear the appeal signals that the legal arguments may carry weight beyond this single case. If the conviction is upheld, it could set a precedent for how similar cases against BYC activists are treated. If overturned, it may prompt broader scrutiny of the evidence used in terrorism-related prosecutions. What's Next The high court will hear arguments on the merits of the appeal in subsequent proceedings. No date has been set for the next hearing. The Supreme Court is also expected to rule on the bail petitions, which could affect Dr Mahrang's custody status while the appeal is pending.