BNM Urges Global Intervention In Balochistan Human Rights Crisis During Geneva Conference
In Geneva, Switzerland, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) hosted a press conference spearheaded by Dr. Naseem Baloch, the chairman, aimed at bringing attention to the dire situation in Balochistan and urging international intervention to address ongoing human rights violations.
This event was part of a broader initiative coinciding with the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, extending over three days. It commenced on March 11, 2024, with the BNM’s 4th global conference on Balochistan, drawing participation from esteemed figures who expressed solidarity with the Baloch people. The campaign is slated to continue for two additional days at Geneva’s Broken Chair.
Dr. Baloch passionately implored the United Nations and global powers to support the Baloch national movement, advocating for an end to the rampant human rights abuses and the oppressive conditions endured by the Baloch populace. He stressed the importance of international attention on Balochistan and the urgent need for addressing its current challenges.
He recounted the rich history of the Baloch as an ancient nation, highlighting their resistance against British colonialism and their steadfast preservation of their distinct identity, language, culture, and way of life. According to him, Balochistan proclaimed independence in 1947 only to be forcibly annexed by Pakistan in 1948, a move vehemently opposed by the Baloch people from the onset.
He also shed light on the grave human rights violations occurring in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, fake encounters, and arbitrary arrests targeting Baloch activists and students. He emphasized the pervasive atmosphere of fear and apprehension gripping the region.
He denounced the presence of mass graves and the widespread enforced disappearances in Balochistan, as well as the orchestrated fake encounters staged by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to obscure the truth.
Dr. Baloch lamented the stifling media censorship in Balochistan, underscoring the Pakistani state’s stranglehold over the narrative and the dearth of independent media outlets to report on the ground realities. He underscored the imperative of international intervention in liberating the Baloch people from the unfolding human rights catastrophe.
Concluding the press conference, Dr. Baloch issued a fervent call to action against the Pakistani state in solidarity with the Baloch people, framing the plight of Balochistan not as a mere territorial dispute but as a pressing human rights crisis warranting global attention.
He vehemently appealed to the global audience including human right activists to speak up against the state-sponsored atrocities at the hands of Pakistani army and security agencies. The world must come together and stand neck and neck in holding Pakistan accountable for unleashing terror in the resource rich land of Balochistan.
