Latest news with #Paank
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
15-year-old boy abducted in Pakistan's Balochistan as cycle of persecution continues
Quetta: A 15-year-old Baloch teenager was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces from Kech district in Balochistan, amid an ongoing wave of enforced disappearances across the province, said a leading human rights organisation on Tuesday. Raising concerns, Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, said that on July 24, 15-year-old Qamber Fida was abducted from his house in the Tump tehsil of Kech district in Meerabad. "His abduction without charge or due process is a clear violation of international human rights law and constitutes a crime under the definition of enforced disappearance," the rights body said. Paank strongly denounced the "ongoing crimes against humanity" in Balochistan, including "arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and repression of dissent". The human rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Qamber Fida and ensure his safety, saying that "all enforced disappearances must end, and those responsible must be held accountable". "The rights to life, liberty, and security must be upheld without exception. Baloch lives matter, and the world must not stay silent," Paank asserted. Meanwhile, another human rights organisation, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), on Tuesday, demanded an immediate end to the mental and physical torture of a political activist, Imran Baloch, by the Pakistani authorities in Gwadar Jail of the province. "Baloch political activist Imran Baloch was detained four months ago under the 'Maintenance of Public Order (3 MPO)' and transferred to Gwadani Jail, where he remains imprisoned. Imran Baloch is being deprived of basic human rights in jail. Not only are medical facilities not being provided to him, but Imran is also being subjected to severe mental and physical torture," said a statement issued by BYC. "He is under constant surveillance day and night, and he is kept confined in a single room for 24 hours, where basic necessities such as light, fresh air, and proper food are not available. Imran Baloch is not allowed to meet with his lawyers or family, and he is being kept completely uninformed about his health condition, which has put his life at serious risk," the statement added. The BYC appealed to human rights organisations to take notice of this "inhumane treatment" by Pakistani authorities and play their role in ensuring the "immediate and safe release of Imran Baloch".
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
‘Beacon of hope for oppressed nations'—Baloch leader's letter to PM as Parliament debates Op Sindoor
'These actions are a direct reprisal for the principled stance of the Baloch people, who have chosen to stand in solidarity with the citizens of India,' he wrote in the letter addressed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and senior cabinet ministers including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah. Released the day Parliament convened to debate Operation Sindoor, the letter underscores solidarity between Baloch nationalists and the Indian government. Mir Yar, a prominent voice for Baloch self-determination, hopes that India would raise the Balochistan issue in Parliament and alleges that Pakistan's military has intensified its crackdown in Balochistan. New Delhi: In a letter addressed to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior government leaders, Baloch representative Baloch has extended 'unconditional moral support' to India, calling it a 'beacon of hope for oppressed nations' amid escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad following Operation Sindoor. In its June 2025 report, 'Paank', the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), reported that the Baloch community faces routine harassment, unlawful raids, and enforced disappearances in Pakistan. These actions have created a climate of fear and insecurity, families often suffer without legal recourse or information and many victims are later found dead, showing signs of torture, the report says. The crisis continues amid institutional silence and lack of accountability, the report adds. Mir Yar praised the unity displayed by India's ruling and opposition parties, the professionalism of the armed forces, and what he called the 'responsible' role played by the national media in covering Operation Sindoor. 'India and Balochistan share a deep-rooted history of friendship and brotherhood that spans thousands of years,' he said in a separate statement to ThePrint. 'Long before the creation of Pakistan, our two nations maintained strong trade and diplomatic ties. The solidarity shown by 60 million Baloch during Operation Sindoor is a testament to this enduring bond,' he added. Citing the millennia-old civilisational and cultural links between India and Balochistan, Mir Yar urged Indian lawmakers to recognise these ties in the parliamentary discourse. He specifically highlighted the Hinglaj Mata Mandir—a revered Hindu pilgrimage site and one of the 51 'Shaktipeeths'—located in Balochistan, which he said continues to be protected by the local Baloch population despite extremist threats. 'This is not just a geopolitical opportunity,' Mir Yar Baloch wrote in the letter. 'It is a test of India's moral leadership in the region. In the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'—the world is one family—we ask India to stand with us in our pursuit of freedom, dignity, and justice.' The letter also lays out strategic arguments for India's support of an independent Balochistan, suggesting that it would sever Pakistan's access to the Arabian Sea via Gwadar and disrupt the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a project New Delhi views as a major security concern. He added that an independent Balochistan could open new trade corridors for India to Central Asia and the Middle East. Mir Yar appealed to India's moral and geopolitical calculus in the letter and said, 'The Baloch people have consistently looked toward India as a beacon of hope, and their unwavering support for our sovereignty, particularly during events like Operation Sindoor, deserves a principled response from your leadership.' (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Pakistan wants to revive jirgas—council of elders who ordered honour killing of Baloch couple
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Pakistan has crossed the red line in Balochistan: Human rights body
Paank, the Human Rights Department of Baloch National Movement (BNM), said on Sunday that the Pakistan military establishment has crossed the red line in the resource-rich province of Balochistan with the abduction of various women activists. 'In recent years, Pakistan has crossed the red line of human rights violations, religious, and humanitarian in Balochistan. The Pakistani military establishment is torturing, detaining and abducting young Baloch women, which is a grave concern for human rights defenders. They are even violating their laws in the province,' said the human rights body in a statement. Paank further emphasised that despite being a region rich in natural resources and coastal trade benefits and a feeder to the Pakistani state, Balochistan is suffering inhumane behaviour and human rights violations at the hands of the Pakistani military establishment. The human rights body pointed out that Balochistan is facing extreme military violence, like resource extraction, deprivation of basic facilities, military operations, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, criminalisation and collective punishment. 'The Pakistani military establishment is torturing, detaining and abducting young Baloch women. Paank said that the torturing, detaining and abducting of the young Baloch women is a grave concern for human rights defenders. 'This new trend started in 2006. Zarina Marri, a Baloch schoolteacher, has been incommunicado. She was picked up by the Pakistani military. Reports from whistleblowers and human rights observers indicate that she has suffered physical, psychological, and sexual torture in custody, used as a tool of repression, humiliation, and control,' the body said. It added that Zarina Marri's case is not isolated but part of a sustained, deliberate campaign of state terror waged by the Pakistani military establishment against Baloch women and activists. Paank said that the arbitrary arrests and harassment of Mahrang Baloch, Bebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and Mahjabeen Baloch for peacefully demanding justice and human rights expose a system built on the brutal suppression of dissent. 'We (Baloch) have knocked every door of justice but only received condemnation from you, not practical action against the barbaric practice of the Pakistani state against the Baloch people. And yet, despite years of escalating abuse, where is your outrage? Where is your intervention? Where are the investigations, the condemnations, the demands for accountability?' the body said. Paank said that human rights and feminist groups have never hesitated to condemn state violence in Palestine, Iran, India, Myanmar, and elsewhere. 'But when it comes to Balochistan, your silence is loud, and your inaction is complicity,' Paank added.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
84 enforced disappearances, 33 extrajudicial killings reported in Balochistan in June: Rights group
Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, said on Sunday that Balochistan in Pakistan witnessed 84 cases of enforced disappearances and 33 cases of extrajudicial killings in the month of June. In its recent report titled 'Balochistan Human Rights Report – June 2025', Paank has documented cases of particularly enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Paank noted that the data mentioned in the report is based on verified reports from June 2025 and demonstrates the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan. According to the report, numerous cases of enforced disappearances and illegal detentions were reported across 14 districts of Balochistan in June, including incidents from Karachi and Islamabad. The districts of Kech and Mastung in Balochistan recorded the highest number of disappearances. A total of 84 people were forcibly disappeared in June, as per the report. Among them, many were held without any legal process, and 32 individuals were later released after suffering both mental and physical torture while in custody. In the report, the Paank accused Pakistani forces of carrying out extrajudicial killings without a pause. According to the report, the Pakistani military is reportedly detaining and killing individuals without any legal process, often for unknown reasons. Paank said that 33 cases of extrajudicial killings were reported in Balochistan in June. It said, "These actions reflect a disturbing trend of unchecked violence by state authorities." "The repeated use of enforced disappearances followed by extrajudicial killings has become a hallmark of state policy in Balochistan. Victims are often taken without any legal process and later found dead, bearing signs of torture. The silence of institutions and lack of judicial oversight have allowed this crisis to grow. For families, the trauma is twofold—first the disappearance, then the discovery of mutilated bodies, often dumped in remote areas. This ongoing pattern reflects a deep human rights emergency that demands urgent international attention," said the Paank report. It noted that the abductions of Baloch youth from Karachi and Islamabad have also become increasingly common, which has sparked concerns among families and human rights defenders. It said that the racial profiling case of Baloch students remains pending in the Islamabad High Court despite repeated calls for action. According to the report, Baloch activists Mahrang Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Sibghat Ullah Baloch, and Beeberg Baloch remain in custody despite appearing before the court. The Paank said that the Baloch activists were handed over to the police on a 10-day physical remand under newly fabricated terrorism charges instead of being released and said that the "move appears to be a clear tactic by the authorities to silence peaceful activists and leaders, and to keep them locked up without fair trial or evidence."
Malaysia Sun
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Pakistan's brutal crackdown continues- two Baloch youth forcibly disappeared in Hub Chowki, families targeted for years
Balochistan [Pakistan], July 5 (ANI): Paank, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has vehemently denounced the recent abduction of two Baloch youths from Hub Chowki, Balochistan, by Pakistani security personnel. A statement from Paank reported that on the night of July 4, Liaquat Mustafa, son of Ghulam Mustafa, and Umar Atta, son of Atta Baloch, both hailing from Mashkai, were taken during separate operations at their residences. Paank indicated that these operations occurred without search warrants or due legal process, with both individuals being escorted to undisclosed locations. The organisation stressed that Liaquat Mustafa's case is particularly heartbreaking, as his father, Ghulam Mustafa, was also forcibly taken on January 15, 2016, and has not been seen since. This event points to a disturbing trend of targeting entire families over the years. In a similar vein, Paank mentioned that Umar Atta had previously experienced enforced disappearance in 2016. After being released, he showed clear signs of severe physical and mental distress. His recent abduction underscores what Paank describes as a 'cruel cycle of impunity and governmental brutality' in Balochistan. 'These kidnappings represent serious violations of human rights and international law,' Paank asserted. The state of Pakistan continues to employ enforced disappearances as a method of oppression against the Baloch population. Paank underscored that these enforced disappearances are part of a calculated strategy to suppress dissent and foster fear within the local community. The organisation called for the immediate and safe return of all four individuals and demanded an end to the collective punishment imposed on Baloch citizens. Additionally, it has urged all the international human rights organisations, the United Nations, and worldwide civil societies to break their silence and take definitive measures against the ongoing violations in Balochistan. 'Enforced disappearances have become a common method of the Pakistani state in Balochistan; we urge the international community to hold Pakistan accountable and to ensure justice for the victims and their families,' Paank remarked. (ANI)
