A human rights organization has filed a petition with the European Parliament to halt Pakistan’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) status. The petition, submitted by Paank, the human rights arm of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), highlights systematic violence by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan. It cites grave violations of EU trade and human rights norms, urging the suspension of GSP Plus privileges.
The petition underscores a worsening human rights situation in Balochistan, describing it as a state-backed repression campaign against the Baloch people. The report by Paank details a pattern of state violence and the misuse of counter-terrorism laws to target human rights defenders and peaceful activists in the region.
Paank’s report points to a surge in enforced disappearances allegedly orchestrated by Pakistani security forces. It highlights the abduction of thousands of individuals, including students, activists, journalists, and civilians, with many subjected to torture and extrajudicial killings. The organization calls for an official inquiry by the European Commission and the temporary withdrawal of Pakistan’s GSP+ trade benefits.
The rights group urges the European Parliament to request a UN Human Rights Council investigation into extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and secret detention centers in Balochistan. It emphasizes the need to address the systematic violations of international human rights conventions in the region and calls for immediate action to address the escalating crisis.
