Activists in UN raise voice against atrocities in Balochistan

Geneva [Switzerland]: In an attempt to draw the world's attention towards human rights violations in Pakistan's Balochistan province, Baloch activists on Friday spoke at the 37th UN Human Rights Session in Geneva and urged the world community to take action in the matter.

"I would like to draw the attention of this council towards the human rights situation in Balochistan.

The Baloch people continue to face worst forms of atrocities and human rights abuses at the hands of Pakistani security forces," said Abdul Nawaz Bugti, a representative of Baloch Republican Party to the UNHRC.

"Enforced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial murders of Baloch political activists, human rights defenders and students by state agencies continue unabated. 173 Baloch people have been abducted by the Pakistani authorities since the start of this year and 91 people have been extrajudicially murdered," he added.

Another Baloch Republican Party activist, Jawad Muhammad, also voiced his opinion on the ongoing atrocities in the Pakistan's restive province, saying, "Pakistan has always tried to silence any voices being raised on human rights abuses in Balochistan as 'internal matter' while human rights are universal and any violations should be a global concern.

We urge the members of this council to speak up on the situation in Balochistan and help prevent the gross human rights violations from escalating."

Meanwhile, Baloch Voice Association President Munir Mengal said Islamic State was using enforced disappearances and abduction of females as a tool to spread its terror in the restive region.

"Unfortunately, enforced disappearance and systematic abduction of females is being used by the Islamic State as a tool to rule and dominate Balochistan.

They are being held as sex slaves in military torture cells becoming victims of extra-judicial torture.

The international community must act to hold perpetrators accountable and to take effective measures to provide justice and remedy to the victims and survivors," he said in a statement.

Earlier, the Baloch Republican Party on Thursday carried out a car rally in Geneva, Switzerland, sending out a message against the war crimes in the country.

The cars were adorned with the banners and advertisements of "Save Baloch People from Pakistani war crimes in Balochistan".

The rally was conducted throughout the city while raising awareness about the incidents of human rights violations across Balochistan.