Amnesty International has issued a condemnation of what it describes as a “systematic attack” on the rights of Baloch activists in Pakistan. The human rights watchdog has called for the immediate release of several detained protesters, including well-known human rights defenders Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, and Bebarg Zehri. The demand for their release accompanies calls for an independent investigation into the police actions during a protest on March 21 in Quetta, where violence reportedly ensued (Amnesty International).
The situation in Quetta highlights broader concerns regarding the treatment of Baloch activists. Events escalated following the detention of Bebarg Zehri and his brother on March 20, instigating protests that resulted in police reportedly killing three protestors. Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s subsequent arrest came after she led a sit-in protest, further intensifying the sense of urgency around these issues (Video report).
Amnesty International criticized the use of tactics such as multiple First Information Reports (FIRs), preventive detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, and anti-terrorism charges. Such measures have been deemed inappropriate given the peaceful nature of the protests. The organization has renewed calls for Pakistani authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Babu Ram Pant, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, stressed the need for accountability regarding the police actions on March 21 (Legal Framework Details).
Additional pressure has been applied by the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC), which recently appealed to the UN for intervention. This followed similar calls for action from UN independent experts, who have urged Pakistani authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding missing activists and to desist from using counter-terrorism legislation against human rights defenders (BHRC statement).
The protests and subsequent crackdown shed light on enduring tensions in Balochistan, where activists frequently allege governmental practices of enforced disappearances and suppression of dissent. Since 2011, there have been approximately 9,000 reported cases of such disappearances, although Baloch organizations argue the actual figures are significantly higher. The UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances has also documented over 1,000 ongoing unresolved cases in the area since 2014 (Inquiry Report).
The recent escalation of these issues underscores a pattern of behavior identified by organizations such as Human Rights Watch, which have previously criticized the Pakistani response to peaceful protests in the region. The call now is for Pakistani authorities to release detained activists and address the underlying issues through a transparent legal and investigative process (HRW statement).
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