The Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) has urgently appealed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for intervention in the suppression of peaceful protests in Pakistan. The council is demanding the immediate release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and fellow members of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee, stressing that the international community should not be silent in the face of these violations.
The BHRC describes the recent arrests of activists during a demonstration against enforced disappearances as a stark infringement on fundamental rights and democratic values. On March 22, Dr Baloch, a renowned human rights advocate, was arrested during a peaceful sit-in in Quetta, highlighting a larger crackdown on those demanding accountability for extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, where state violence and military actions have become alarmingly common.
Balochistan has struggled with prolonged conflict, with activists decrying exploitation of resources, forced displacements, and government-sanctioned violence. Since 2014, over 1,000 cases of enforced disappearances have been reported by the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, underscoring a grim reality for the region.
In response to the rising protests, the Karachi authorities invoked colonial-era section 144, prohibiting all public gatherings under the pretext of security. This led to heightened tensions and the dispersal of demonstrators, including Dr Baloch. A series of protests were held by the Baloch Yekjehti Committee on March 25, further voicing opposition to such arrests.
The Baloch National Movement’s UK chapter joined the cause by protesting outside 10 Downing Street, pressing the Prime Minister to intervene on behalf of those facing rights violations in Pakistan, seeking to draw international attention to the oppressive measures taken by authorities against protestors.
The Baloch Human Rights Council has urged the UN to intervene in the repression of protests in Pakistan and demanded the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and others. Recent arrests of activists during demonstrations against enforced disappearances reflect alarming human rights violations. In response, protests have escalated despite government-imposed restrictions, demanding global attention towards the situation in Balochistan.
The Baloch Human Rights Council’s urgent call for UN intervention highlights the escalating repression faced by peaceful protestors in Pakistan. With the ongoing arrests of activists and the suppression of fundamental freedoms, there arises a pressing need for international scrutiny and accountability. As tensions rise in Balochistan amid claims of rights violations, global action is imperative to address these critical issues.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
