Geneva, March 20: The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has urgently called on the international community to address the widespread human rights violations occurring in Balochistan. The organization alleges that the Pakistani government and its security apparatus are using the law to suppress dissent, target ordinary citizens, and silence voices across the region.
During the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, BNM representatives highlighted the alarming rise in cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and restrictions on freedom of expression in Balochistan.
They argue that these actions are part of a systematic effort to silence the voices of the Baloch people. BNM member Mahra Baloch stated that ordinary citizens are being collectively punished simply for living in Balochistan and asserting their identity. The entire population is facing repercussions for their existence, as the Pakistani government weaponizes the law under the guise of counter-terrorism.
Dissenters are being criminalized, lives are being extinguished, and the collective voice of the community is being stifled. Mahra Baloch accused Pakistan of misusing its anti-terrorism laws to label Baloch students, social activists, and human rights defenders as restricted or suspicious individuals. This misuse strips them of their freedoms, affects their right to travel, and forces them to live in constant fear.
In 2025 alone, BNM’s human rights department, ‘Pank’, recorded 1,355 cases of enforced disappearances and 225 extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Mahra emphasized that these figures represent real people—those abducted from their homes, students taken from campuses, and bodies returned to instill fear in others.
She also raised concerns about actions against the Baloch Unity Committee (BYC) leadership. Mahra stated, “Mahrang Baloch, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was arbitrarily arrested, denied medical treatment, and targeted simply for raising her voice peacefully.” She noted that internet shutdowns, mass surveillance, and collective punishment have become common practices to prevent the world from understanding the true situation in Balochistan.
Mahra Baloch urged the international community to pressure Pakistan to immediately halt these human rights violations, release arbitrarily detained Baloch activists, and conduct independent and transparent investigations into enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Earlier, during the same session, Pank’s media coordinator, Jamal Baloch, also stated that atrocities have intensified in connection with projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said, “I have come to present the systematic human rights violations being perpetrated by Pakistan in Balochistan, which are being reinforced by China’s strategic and economic involvement.”
Enforced disappearances in Balochistan are functioning as a state policy. The Pakistani military acts above the law, abducting students, teachers, journalists, and political activists.
Jamal Baloch accused the government of portraying peaceful protests as acts of terrorism. He noted that women-led civil rights movements are being crushed, and internet access is frequently cut off in many districts of Balochistan to prevent the voices of victims from reaching the world. He also claimed that repression has increased alongside CPEC projects, as the militarization of civilian life is being used to control security and resources.
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