Lawyer questions Balochistan High Court’s fairness in the BYC leaders’ bail case

A dramatic development took place during a hearing at the Balochistan High Court on Tuesday, focusing on the bail applications of detained leaders of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC). The proceedings quickly turned tense as the BYC leaders’ lawyer, Sajid Tareen Advocate, openly voiced a lack of confidence in the court’s impartiality and accused the presiding judges of aligning with the government’s interests.

The case was being heard in Courtroom No. 1, with Acting Chief Justice Ejaz Swati and Justice Amir Rana presiding. Throughout the session, Advocate Tareen launched a fierce critique of the bench, alleging that the judges appeared more concerned with “pleasing the state and government” than ensuring justice was served. His comments reflected growing frustration with what he perceived as a biased judicial process.

In a bold declaration, Tareen stated, “This court has already provided enough concessions to the government. I no longer trust this court,” and demanded that the case be transferred to another bench. He emphasized his unwillingness to continue participating in what he called a “drama,” where the government was allegedly receiving preferential treatment at the expense of justice for the detainees.

When warned of potential contempt charges, Tareen responded defiantly, saying, “Go ahead and proceed quickly,” signaling his resistance to intimidation. He also questioned the legal process, highlighting that his clients had initially been detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), but were now facing formal charges via FIRs an inconsistency he viewed as a violation of legal procedures.

The lawyer further accused the judges of acting in their own self-interest, alleging that they were preoccupied with building their professional credentials rather than delivering fair judgments. “Both judges are busy preparing their CVs,” he remarked, suggesting that the judiciary was more interested in self-promotion than justice. He concluded that if the court could no longer dispensation justice, there was little point in continuing proceedings there.

The case involves the arrest of several prominent BYC leaders in March, who had been detained during a protest sit-in in Quetta. Among those held are activist Mahrang Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Shah Jee Sabghatullah, Beebagr Baloch, Gulzadi, and others. Their arrests followed violent clashes with police, and initial charges were filed under the contentious 3 MPO law.

Since their detention, the detainees’ bail pleas have been repeatedly rejected, leaving them in custody for over two months. Their legal team alleges that the judiciary is deliberately delaying justice, possibly under external pressure, and is refusing to uphold basic principles of fairness. The case has thus become a focal point of controversy, highlighting concerns over judicial independence and the rights of political detainees in Balochistan.