BWF condemns growing human rights violations in Balochistan

Balochistan: According to the Balochistan Post, the Baloch Women Forum (BWF) denounced the escalating human rights abuses in Balochistan and drew attention to the local population’s intensifying repression.

In a recent statement, the BWF denounced parliamentary parties for taking advantage of these problems for their own political and personal benefit while the people of Balochistan still endure hardship, according to the Balochistan Post. The forum claimed that anti-Baloch measures are becoming more severe in spite of repeated warnings.

The Balochistan Post also stated that a terrible event on January 4, 2025, in which a teenage demonstrator was knocked over by a truck during a nonviolent sit-in in Hoshap, Turbat, was a major emphasis of the news release. The demonstration was in response to the forced disappearances of Zaman Baloch and Abul Hassan, two Baloch men. After being taken to Turbat and then Karachi, the wounded protester passed away from his wounds. “Who is accountable for such attacks on our right to peaceful protest and legal protections?” said the BWF spokesperson.

Additionally, the BWF denounced the extrajudicial executions of Zakaria Baloch from Gwadar and Afzal Manzoor from Turbat. Security forces forcibly abducted Afzal in December 2024, and his body was later discovered with evidence of torture after being misrepresented as being a part of an explosion. According to the Balochistan Post, Zakaria was similarly kidnapped by security personnel and, after being freed, was cruelly murdered by “unknown” attackers who are thought to be behind several attacks on Baloch people.

The mass kidnapping of more than 10 Baloch in the Zehri neighborhood of Khuzdar, which sparked demonstrations and roadblocks, was also mentioned in the statement. Many people in state custody are still unaccounted for, even if others were freed.

While swiftly denouncing insurgent actions, the BWF condemned elected leaders for their inaction in the face of these kidnappings. According to the Balochistan Post, the BWF claimed that this inaction increases the Baloch people’s animosity toward the government.

The forum urged human rights groups, both domestic and foreign, to put pressure on the government to stop these violations. The BWF also called on the Baloch people to band together and take coordinated action to fight this continuous tyranny, according to the Balochistan Post. The spokesperson came to the conclusion that “the only way forward is our collective resistance.”