The Baloch National Movement (BNM) criticized Pakistan for persisting with the “inhumane policy” of collective punishment in Balochistan. The BNM highlighted that families in Balochistan are suffering due to this practice, which lacks justice and violates fundamental human rights. The organization described Balochistan as a region where justice is scarce, and human rights are routinely disregarded, turning it into a prison and a zone of violence and torture.
Expressing alarm, the BNM pointed out that 22 Baloch youths were forcibly disappeared, tortured, and killed within a span of 20 days in Panjgur district. These individuals were targeted merely for their association with the Baloch national movement or advocacy for human rights. The case of Naseem Baloch, the BNM chairman, exemplifies the political repression and collective punishment prevalent in the region, with his family members being disappeared due to his activism.
As enforced disappearances and coercion continue in Balochistan, the BNM emphasized that individuals, including children, are vanishing daily, while families are coerced into disowning their loved ones publicly. The victims are often deprived of legal representation, kept in custody for extended periods, and coerced into making forced confessions for media consumption. The BNM called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene, investigate independently, and hold accountable those responsible for human rights abuses in Balochistan.
