Baloch National Movement held a protest demonstration against the oppression of the Baloch people on the occasion of the 42nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in front of the ‘broken chair’ in Geneva Switzerland.
Baloch National Movement also submitted a memorandum to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to highlight the human rights situation in Balochistan, particularly the case of enforced disappearances which has taken the shape of a humanitarian crisis. Sindhi and Pashtun leaders also took part in the demonstration.
The event was organized by Dr. Naseem Baloch who is the organizer of the BNM diaspora committee. He stated that the Baloch National Movement had been struggling for three decades for national freedom. “This is not the first time that we have gathered here, in fact, we have come here and tried to convey our message to the floor of the United Nations and other responsible authorities.”
The head of World Sindhi Congress Dr. Lakhu Lohana addressed the Baloch National Movement activists
and said, “Today Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun have gathered in the hope that the world will take action against the oppression of the Pakistani State machinery against Sindhi, Baloch, and Pashtun people. Pakistan has committed countless war crimes, and shed the blood of thousands of innocent people and continues doing the same. Pakistan not only made Baloch and Sindhi slaves but is also a source of violence and terrorism in the world.
He questioned, “whether India, Iran, Afghanistan, and the whole world are secure from the evil (terrorism) of Pakistan? The answer is No. There will be a delay in the freedom of Baloch, Sindhi and Pashtun lands, but this is inevitable.”
The head of International Friends of Sindh, Saleem Sanahi said, “We stand with our Baloch brothers till they achieve their freedom. We have a centuries-old historical and natural alliance with the Baloch nation, and we believe the freedom of Balochistan is proportionally associated with the freedom of Sindh. Today we are here to express our solidarity with our Baloch brothers whose freedom was snatched from the illegitimate son of British imperialism. Baloch are struggling for the very first day of their illegal occupation by Pakistan; they are struggling from the mountains of Balochistan to the plains of Europe. Today we are standing here to tell the world about the committed sins of the English due to which millions of Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun are suffering for last seventy-two years and can be seen in Balochistan, Pashtunistan and Sindhi Desh in shape of carpeted bombardment.
He also lamented the depleted situation of Hindu minorities who are being treated inhumanely. He was relating the recent incident of Ghotki where Hindus were tortured by Muslim fanatics, supported by the state. He appealed to the United Nations to take notice of the incident.
The Ex-chairperson of Baloch Student Organisation Azad, Karima Baloch stated, “we gather here twice
annually to remind United Nations of its responsibilities; in reality, the UN should have known its responsibilities, but we Baloch, Sindhi, and Pashtun are holding the photos of our loved ones whose fates are unknown to us.”
She mocked the silence of the United Nations while commenting, “I am afraid, the United Nations has not been abducted and languishing in Pakistani torture cells like thousands of Baloch. The United Nations has to pay attention to our grievances because you cannot see a parallel situation of human rights violations and war crimes what is happening in Balochistan, Sindh, and Pashtunistan. The silence of the United Nations is a question mark on its credibility.”
The PTM leader Raufi Khan stated, “be it a Pashtun, Sindhi or Baloch, we share a similar fate. Pakistan Army is committing atrocities on us. Thousands of Baloch, thousands of Sindhi and thousands of Pashtun are missing. Today we are standing in solidarity with our Baloch brothers. We, Pashtun, Sindhi and Baloch have a common enemy. We have to fight unitedly against our common enemy. Those who speak of Indian atrocities in Kashmir, I will show them what is going on in Waziristan? Curfew has been imposed in Kharkuna for the last two months. People are not allowed to come out of their homes. We are fully aware of the terrorism of Pakistan Army which is committing worst atrocities, have even not been done by Nazi under Hitler. We Pashtun, Sindhi and Baloch have a uniform objective which is to give sacrifices till each of us achieves our national freedom.”
At the end of the demonstration, Dr. Naseem Baloch thanked all participants, journalists, and photographers. He said that the purpose of this demonstration was to ask the United Nations to take notice of the war crimes of Pakistan in Balochistan, Sindhu Desh, and Pashtunistan.
