Geneva : Chairman of the Baloch National Movement, Dr. Naseem Baloch, while addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s 52nd session, has demanded the accountability of the Pakistani forces based on human rights abuses in Balochistan.
“I request the UN Council to make Pakistani security forces accountable for their crimes against humanity in a 21st-century world,” said Dr Naseem.
Chairman BNM said, “In the first two months of 2023, Pakistani forces took away 80 people from Balochistan, including two women and 18 students. Their whereabouts are still unknown to their families.”
He rejected Pakistan’s claim given in the Universal Periodic Review and said that In January, in its Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Pakistan falsely claimed a favourable human rights situation there. While the fact is that Pakistani security forces are committing heinous crimes in Balochistan. These actions include enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
He appreciated the role of the countries in the 42nd session of the UPR, which urged Pakistan to stop enforced disappearances; he said that during the 42nd session of the UPR at the United Nations, India, Israel, Holland, Italy, and Paraguay urged Pakistan to end enforced disappearances. Furthermore, they expressed their concerns regarding the rights of religious minorities. We welcome and appreciate their principled stance.
Text of the Chairman’s Speech at the 52nd Session of the UNHRC
Enforced Disappearances and Extrajudicial killings in Balochistan
Your Excellency
We would like to draw your attention to the widespread human rights violations perpetrated by Pakistani state agencies against Baloch people.
In January, in its Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Pakistan falsely claimed a favourable human rights situation there. While the fact is that Pakistani security forces are committing heinous crimes in Balochistan. These actions include enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
In this regard, during the 42nd session of the UPR at the United Nations, India, Israel, Holland, Italy, and Paraguay urged Pakistan to end enforced disappearances. Furthermore, they expressed their concerns regarding the rights of religious minorities. We welcome and appreciate their principled stance.
In the first two months of 2023, Pakistani forces took away 80 people from Balochistan, including two women and 18 students. Their whereabouts are still unknown to their families. I request the UN Council to make Pakistani security forces accountable for their crimes against humanity in a 21st-century world.
Thank you