Exposing Pak military’s inhumane acts, enforced disappearances; Baloch voices human rights campaign in London

New Delhi, June 17: Increasing atrocities and harassment faced by the people of Baluchistan on Pakistan is no something which has been veiled under masks. The forced disappearances and violence enforced on these people by Pakistan has just added to the never-ending list. Coming out loud and clear, the World Balochistan Organization (WBO) and Balochistan Republican Party (BRP) jointly launched a campaign for human rights awareness in London.

The Awareness campaign by the groups aims on highlighting the “dire human rights situation in Pakistan.” It particularly triggers at the abuses faced by the ethnic Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Mohajir and religious minorities in the country. There have been lot of cases where the minorities have been disappeared in Pakistan unknowingly. This campaign will focus on such issues and highlight the forcible abduction of Pakistan’s military and its intelligence agencies on these minorities. While most are extra-judicially killed and their bodies dumped on roadsides bearing signs of extreme torture, the groups claimed.

The international organization Amnesty has termed these atrocities as the "Kill and dump" policy. Unfortunately, the people targeted in this forcible disappearance include activists, teachers, students, doctors, intellectuals and journalists who have voiced their opinions against the military's iron grip over the country. The journalists are at risk because the military has such a strong hold over the local media. The hold is so strong that anyone reporting such incidents will be targeted as well. In this regard, the international NGO's and journalists are not given access to Balochistan where most of the cases of disappearances have been registered.

 

Pakistan’s role in this atrocity is not something that is hidden or unknown. The country has been continuously criticized over this practice of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing by international bodies and human rights organisations. Pakistan Prime Minister during his election campaigning admitted the involvement of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies in enforced disappearances. He also vowed to resign if he was unable to put an end to the practice, holding those involved responsible.

The organisers of the campaign have long been engaged in efforts to highlight the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan at international platforms, organising events around Europe and in the United States, along with focusing on advocacy activities in the European Parliament, the US parliamentary houses, and the United Nations.