Baloch Women Lead Protests Against Injustices in Pakistan
Lahore, Pakistan, June 25: Baloch women are leading a significant protest movement against Pakistan, despite facing repressions, enforced disappearances, economic marginalisation, and severe restrictions on their freedoms. The Baloch Women Forum released a statement on Tuesday highlighting the dire conditions of women in Balochistan and the state-inflicted genocide upon the Baloch community.
The statement noted, “Despite facing numerous socio-political challenges, women stand firm in their struggle for justice and the well-being of their families. These women often confront issues such as enforced disappearances, economic marginalisation, and severe restrictions on their freedoms.”
The forum praised their activism, “driven by love and an unyielding spirit, involves organising protests, advocating for human rights, and raising awareness about the plight of their loved ones.”
The statement also emphasised the severe scarcity of essential services and basic amenities in Balochistan. It highlighted the lack of adequate healthcare facilities, especially for severe illnesses like cancer. Many women endure pain without proper diagnosis or treatment, travelling long distances to receive basic medical care.
Hameeda Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist, has been admitted to Agha Khan Hospital in Lahore due to cancer. She could not receive proper medication in her homeland. The statement said, “The plight of these women like Hameeda Baloch, who has been fighting and struggling against the issues in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, now fighting against cancer in the Agha Khan Hospital, is a stark reminder of the intersection between political strife and public health crises.”
The Baloch Women Forum urged the world to recognise their endurance and join in their fight for a future where their rights and health are secured.
