South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of human rights defenders, strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch human rights defender, as well as the recent arrests of the leaders of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the use of disproportionate force on peaceful protestors which included women and children.
SAHR calls for the immediate release of all peaceful protestors, including leaders of the BYC, and calls upon the provincial government of Balochistan and the federal government to refrain from using force against peaceful protestors. Instead the state should immediately engage in a political dialogue to find solutions with its people to end this crises.
SAHR has consistently urged the Government of Pakistan to end enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, and to engage in a political dialogue with all stakeholders. SAHR notes that the Constitution of Pakistan protects the Fundamental Rights of due process and freedom of expression and assembly and further notes that Pakistan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that binds it to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and rights to due process and a fair trial.
Furthermore, SAHR emphasizes that enforced disappearances must end immediately. The practice of abducting and detaining individuals without a fair trial is a violation of fundamental rights of people, as enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. SAHR notes that the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has repeatedly appealed to the state to investigate all cases of enforced disappearances.
In compliance with its commitments, we urge the Pakistani government to respect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, and to ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable.
On behalf of the members of South Asians for Human Rights
Dr. Roshmi Goswami
Co-Chairperson
Dr. P. Saravanamuttu
Bureau Member