The Baloch National Movement (BNM) organized a protest and rally in Hanover, Germany, to mark 77 years of Pakistan’s occupation of Balochistan. BNM activists highlighted the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan through speeches, placards, and slogans. They condemned the arrests of Maahrang, Bebagr, Bebo, and other detained leaders, demanding their immediate release.
Prominent BNM members, including Sharhassan, Nadeem Saleem, Sadiq Saeed, and Rahman Baloch, addressed the gathering. The speakers asserted that Balochistan remains an occupied nation, forcefully annexed by Pakistan on March 27, 1948, through military aggression and deception. Since then, the Baloch people have endured relentless oppression but have never accepted this occupation. They reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the struggle for freedom.
They strongly condemned the recent surge in state repression in Quetta, particularly the enforced disappearances and the brutal attack by Pakistani forces on March 22. The assault targeted a peaceful sit-in on Sariab Road, held to demand the recovery of missing persons.
The attack left three individuals martyred and dozens injured, while state forces deliberately obstructed medical aid and vandalized public property. The speakers denounced this as a grave example of state terrorism.
Reflecting on Balochistan’s history, the speakers emphasized that the struggle for independence dates back to the British invasion and the martyrdom of Khan Baloch Mehrab Khan in 1839. Balochistan was declared independent by Britain on August 11, 1947, but Pakistan, through diplomatic pressure and conspiracies, sought to annex it. In December 1947, the Balochistan Parliament overwhelmingly rejected accession to Pakistan, affirming its independent status. However, on March 27, 1948, Pakistan launched a military invasion and forcibly occupied Balochistan.
The speakers reiterated that the Baloch people observe March 27 as a Black Day and remain steadfast in their resistance against Pakistani rule. They called on the international community to break its silence, denounce Pakistan’s atrocities, and support Balochistan’s struggle for independence.
