Baloch Yakjehti Committee Criticizes New Pakistani Law Allowing Military Arrests in Balochistan
Quetta, Pakistan – The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has strongly criticized the Pakistani federal government for passing the ‘Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024.’ This new law allows the defense forces to arrest and imprison people for organizing or participating in public meetings. The BYC condemns this as a way to legally support and increase the ongoing Baloch genocide.
The BYC states that Balochistan already faces severe problems like poor infrastructure, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. Residents often protest to express their dissatisfaction with these conditions. In a statement on X, the BYC expressed serious concerns, saying, “We have grave concerns over the recent decision by Pakistan’s federal government to grant the state military sweeping powers in Balochistan to arrest individuals on suspicion and detain them without trial for up to three months. This move is an attempt to justify and escalate the ongoing Baloch genocide legally.”
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 “𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞” 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐡 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 Balochistan is already one of the most severely affected… https://t.co/H8SQtlQVNf pic.twitter.com/OZvCfi26Pz
— Mahrang Baloch (@MahrangBaloch_) September 7, 2024
The BYC points out that the military already has similar powers in practice, often making Baloch people disappear and detaining them in secret torture cells for long periods without any legal process. This has been happening for years and continues without stopping. The new law, which targets “suspects,” is expected to make these abuses worse and provide legal protection for severe human rights violations throughout Balochistan.
The BYC says that from Makuran to Koh-e-Sulaiman, enforced disappearances have become a daily event in Balochistan. They highlight that Balochistan is one of the most affected regions, with more than one Baloch disappearing every day. The new law aims to give the military full legal and constitutional authority for such actions, ensuring that every act of oppression and brutality is legally protected.
The BYC warns that these measures could turn Balochistan into a center of human rights violations, potentially leading to the disappearance of millions. They urgently call on international human rights organizations to condemn the decision and take immediate action.
Doubts Revealed
Baloch Yakjehti Committee -: The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) is a group that works to support and unite the people of Balochistan, a region in Pakistan. They focus on human rights and social issues affecting the Baloch people.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a large region in Pakistan. It has many natural resources but also faces problems like poor infrastructure and human rights issues.
Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act, 2024 -: This is a new law in Pakistan that allows the military to arrest and keep people in jail for up to three months without a trial. It is meant to control public gatherings and maintain order.
military arrests -: Military arrests mean that soldiers, not regular police, can take people into custody. This can happen without the usual legal process.
genocide -: Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. The BYC claims that the new law will make it easier for such acts to happen in Balochistan.
extrajudicial killings -: Extrajudicial killings are when people are killed by the government or its agents without any legal process or trial. This is illegal and a serious human rights violation.
enforced disappearances -: Enforced disappearances happen when people are secretly taken away by the government or other groups, and their whereabouts are kept hidden. This is also a serious human rights issue.
international human rights organizations -: These are groups that work globally to protect people’s basic rights and freedoms. Examples include Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.