Paank Condemns Coerced Video of Disappeared Baloch Individuals

The Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement, known as Paank, has expressed strong disapproval of a coerced video involving two forcibly disappeared individuals, Diljan Baloch and Hasil Khan. Paank's statement on social media criticized the act of forcing victims to recite scripted statements under duress, highlighting that it violates international law, including the prohibition of torture and the right to a fair trial under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Paank emphasized that these forced statements exacerbate the illegality of enforced disappearances and cause further psychological harm to the victims and their families. They urged Pakistani authorities to stop these practices, release all disappeared individuals, and comply with international human rights obligations.

Reports indicate that Diljan Baloch, from Awaran, was taken by security forces and forcibly disappeared, adding to the growing list of such cases in Balochistan. Enforced disappearances are a significant issue in the region, with many individuals, mainly from the Baloch ethnic community, abducted without explanation or legal process. Families often face harassment when seeking information about their loved ones.

Most of the disappeared are political activists, student leaders, journalists, and citizens who are critical of the state or advocate for Baloch rights. They are often accused of ties to separatist movements or challenging government policies in Balochistan, a region with ongoing ethnic and political tensions.