Berlin: Baloch National Movement (BNM) has launched a campaign to expose Pakistan globally by highlighting the atrocities being committed in occupied Balochistan by the Pakistani Army and secret agencies.
Through the campaign, in the form of demonstrations and protests, the BNM wants the European countries and rest of the world community to review their policies towards Pakistan in view of the extreme human rights violations being perpetrated by the State agencies in Balochistan.
At such protests held in Berlin and Bielefeld in Germany yesterday and in The Netherlands on February 25, the Baloch people, including women and children, highlighted the menace of ‘Enforced disappearances’ being carried out by the Pakistani security forces and agencies in Balochistan.
Every year, tens of thousands of Baloch people become victims of ‘Enforced disappearances’, a concept under which men, women and even children are illegally picked up by the State agencies and then either killed in fake encounters or kept in illegal detention, where they are subjected to extreme torture for life.
President of the BNM Germany Chapter Asghar Ali, while addressing participants at the Berlin demonstration, pointed out that for the past two decades, the Pakistani army and agencies have been involved in serious human rights violations in Balochistan.
“Thousands of political activists, social workers and even civilians have been involuntarily and forcibly disappeared and killed by Pakistani security forces,” he said.
Urging the European Union countries to review their policies toward Pakistan, Ali said the Pakistani State is committing grave human rights violations in Balochistan.
“Women and children are kept in torture cells for days without any charges,” he noted.
Giving examples, he said one Rasheeda Zehri was kept in a torture cell for 13 days while the notorious Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) forcibly disappeared Mahal Baloch on February 17 and framed her with false allegations, since when her whereabouts and fate are unknown.
Shar Hassan, Joint Secretary BNM Germany Chapter, described Pakistan army as a “terrorist” force and said it is committing gross human rights violations in Balochistan, like torturing and sexually-abusing women, in a way similar to what it did in the erstwhile East Pakistan leading to its liberation and formation of Bangladesh in 1971.
“Such evil practices of Pakistan will not stop Baloch from getting their national freedom,” he asserted.
BNM Netherlands Chapter organized a protest against human rights and the forced disappearance of women and children in Balochistan at Amsterdam Dam Square in the Netherlands.
The protestors distributed pamphlets in markets and displayed them at various places.
Addressing the protesters, Jamal Baloch, a member of BNM Netherlands Chapter, said the civilized world should raise its voice against the enforced disappearances of men, women and children in Balochistan.
“It is the responsibility of people of the European Union to ask their representatives on what basis they are supporting a terrorist country (Pakistan,” he said.
“Currently, men, women and children in Balochistan are subject to enforced disappearance by Pakistani forces on a daily basis. We appeal to European Union, and human rights institutions to take notice of Baloch genocide in Balochistan,” he added.
Islam Murad, a member of BNM Netherlands, said that Pakistani forces earlier targetted men only, but for some years now, they are also been making women and children victims of forced disappearance.
“Pakistani forces are targeting Baloch women under a well-thought plan,” he added.
BNM member Nabeel Baloch said Pakistani forces have been carrying out Baloch Genocide in Balochistan for 75 years.
“Thousands of men, women and children are forcibly missing. At this time, the families of the forcibly disappeared people in Balochistan are continuously protesting for years for the safe recovery of their loved ones,” he said.
“We want the international community to take notice of human rights violations in Balochistan… We request all the responsible organisations and the civilized world to raise their voices for the people of Balochistan,” he added.
