Mahrang Baloch Speaks Out on Enforced Disappearances in Balochistan
Balochistan [Pakistan], August 29: Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch has raised serious concerns about the discovery of mutilated bodies of enforced disappearance victims in Balochistan. She described the situation as “deeply alarming” and accused the Pakistani state of forcibly disappearing people, holding them for years, and then killing them or discarding their mutilated bodies.
“Multiple mutilated bodies of enforced disappearance victims have been recovered from various areas of Balochistan. This is deeply alarming. The state forcibly disappears individuals, holds them for months or years, then kills them and discards their mutilated bodies. This is nothing less than a Baloch genocide,” Mahrang Baloch stated in a post on X.
Earlier this week, Mahrang Baloch, who is also the organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, appreciated the United Nations’ stance on the forced disappearances of Baloch members. She said, “Finally, the UN takes a stand for the disappeared in Pakistan. Urging Pakistan to ratify the Convention against Enforced Disappearances. The UN’s call for Pakistan to address enforced disappearances is a crucial step towards justice. We, the people of Balochistan, have waited too long for the world to see our plight. We are looking forward to more adequate pressure to meet the magnitude of the issue.”
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its findings on Pakistan, calling on the nation to take necessary measures to investigate and prosecute reports of enforced disappearances. The committee urged Islamabad to investigate and prosecute reports of enforced disappearances involving politicians, public officials, human rights campaigners, and leaders of ethnic and ethnoreligious groups.
In Balochistan, the enforced disappearances of innocent Baloch individuals remain a major issue. Several Baloch activists, leaders, and human rights groups have criticized these disappearances as a form of collective punishment, causing significant distress to the families of the victims.
Doubts Revealed
Mahrang Baloch -: Mahrang Baloch is a person who is working to help people in Balochistan, a region in Pakistan. She talks about problems that people there are facing.
Enforced Disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are taken away secretly by the government or other groups, and their families don’t know where they are.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a large area in Pakistan. It has many natural resources but also faces many problems like poverty and conflict.
Pakistani state -: The Pakistani state refers to the government and its institutions in Pakistan.
UN -: UN stands for the United Nations, an international organization that works to solve global problems and promote peace.
Convention against Enforced Disappearances -: This is an agreement that countries can sign to promise they will not allow enforced disappearances and will work to stop them.
Ratify -: To ratify means to officially agree to follow a rule or law, usually by signing a document.
Prosecute -: To prosecute means to officially charge someone with a crime and try to prove they are guilty in a court of law.
