Quetta’s shadows lengthen as reports of Pakistani military excesses against Baloch civilians flood in, turning what was once sporadic outrage into a relentless drumbeat of concern. At the prestigious Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore, a coalition of Baloch activists, political leaders, and human rights defenders laid bare the dire situation in Balochistan, demanding global attention to the province’s spiraling humanitarian crisis.
Sammy Din Baloch of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) took center stage, engaging diplomats, politicians, and journalists in pointed discussions. The BYC leveraged the platform to spotlight enforced disappearances, brutal crackdowns on peaceful protests, and systematic targeting of activists—issues that have festered without meaningful intervention from Islamabad.
In high-level meetings, Baloch met UN Special Rapporteurs, including Gina Romero on freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, Reem Alsalem on violence against women and girls, and Ed O’Donovan, advisor to the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders. Baloch detailed how authorities stifle dissent, with protesters facing immediate arrest or worse. He highlighted violence against Baloch women, forced abductions of minors presented as ‘lawful’ detentions, and relentless harassment of defenders like Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch, and Guljadi Baloch.
The UN representatives expressed profound alarm, pledging to escalate these violations to international forums. BNP leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal amplified the cries, painting a vivid picture of terror: cities locking down in fear at the sight of security forces, while armed Baloch groups receive local welcomes as protectors. Mengal invoked historical betrayals, from the Kalat Khan-Muhammad Ali Jinnah accord to unfulfilled autonomy promises.
Former Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch recounted endless pleas from constituents over missing loved ones, urging political dialogue over militarized solutions. The conference turned chaotic when ex-Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah defended disappearances as anti-terror measures, prompting walkouts led by activists like Sheema Kermani and Sammy Din Baloch.
As Pakistan’s social fabric frays in Balochistan, these voices signal a tipping point. Without urgent reforms, the cycle of alienation and resistance threatens to deepen, underscoring the need for accountability and inclusive governance.