The Baloch National Movement (BNM) raised allegations of severe human rights violations by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Naseem Baloch, BNM’s chairman, highlighted that despite Pakistan receiving special trade status from the European Union, the country has failed to uphold international human rights, labor rights, and democratic governance standards. Baloch emphasized the long-standing pattern of human rights abuses in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of dissenting voices.
During the session, Naseem Baloch revealed that thousands of Baloch individuals, including activists, students, journalists, and civilians, have been forcibly disappeared, with many held in undisclosed detention centers without legal recourse or communication with their families. He pointed out the alarming statistics documented by BNM, reporting 1,355 cases of enforced disappearances and 229 extrajudicial killings in Balochistan in 2025, with similarly distressing figures recorded for the current year up to March 20.
The BNM’s call for a thorough review of Pakistan’s adherence to human rights obligations under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP) was echoed by Faheem Baloch, the organization’s Foreign Secretary. Faheem emphasized the need for an independent inquiry, accountability measures, and safeguarding fundamental rights in response to the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan. He cited reports from Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, underscoring the persistence of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings in the region.
Faheem Baloch further highlighted international concerns over the situation in Balochistan, referencing statements from the United Kingdom, the United States, and members of the European Union expressing apprehensions regarding human rights abuses. He stressed the importance of UN Human Rights Council experts’ calls for Pakistan to investigate these cases and uphold international human rights standards.
