On International Human Rights Day, Paank calls urgent attention to the escalating crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. This grave violation of human rights, characterized by state-sanctioned abductions, undermines the fundamental principles of justice, security, and dignity that every individual is entitled to.
In recent weeks, the situation has reached alarming proportions. From December 1st to December 10th, reports indicate that 27 young Baloch individuals were forcibly disappeared from their homes, workplaces, and public spaces in Balochistan and Karachi by Pakistani security forces. These individuals, now victims of extrajudicial enforced disappearances, have been deprived of their liberty without any legal justification, leaving their families in unbearable anguish and uncertainty.
Enforced disappearances are among the most egregious violations of human rights, carried out by state authorities without accountability or oversight. Victims are often detained in undisclosed locations, denied contact with their families or legal representation, and subjected to torture or other inhumane treatment. In some cases, victims are killed in staged encounters, their deaths concealed under the guise of law enforcement operations.
This practice violates multiple international human rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Pakistan is a signatory. It also contravenes Pakistan’s own constitutional guarantees of due process and protection from arbitrary detention. Yet, such crimes persist, creating an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness, particularly in marginalized regions like Balochistan.
The impact of enforced disappearances is devastating, not only for the victims but also for their families. Mothers, fathers, siblings, and children are left in a perpetual state of grief and uncertainty, not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. This constitutes an ongoing form of psychological torture that further compounds the human rights violations at play.
Paank urges the Pakistani government to:
- Immediately release all victims of enforced disappearances or present them before a court of law.
- Conduct transparent and independent investigations into cases of enforced disappearances and prosecute those responsible.
- Ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and align domestic legislation with its provisions.
- End the use of enforced disappearances as a tool to suppress dissent and target marginalized communities.
We also call upon the international community to:
- Hold the Pakistani government accountable for its failure to protect its citizens from such heinous crimes.
- Provide support to victims and their families through advocacy and diplomatic pressure.
- Demand that Pakistan upholds its obligations under international law to ensure justice and reparations for the victims.
On this International Human Rights Day, Paank stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan and all those affected by enforced disappearances worldwide. These practices must end immediately, and those responsible must face justice.
Human rights are universal, inalienable, and non-negotiable. Together, we must ensure that the voices of victims and their families are heard, and their demands for justice are met. Silence in the face of such atrocities is complicity. Let us act now to reaffirm our shared commitment to the principles of justice, dignity, and human rights for all.