PARIS: The Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Dr. Naseem Baloch, has urged the international community to take serious note of the United Nations (UN)’s findings and hold Pakistan accountable for its ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan.
He shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter) that the UN Special Procedures had written to the Government of Pakistan expressing deep concern over the extrajudicial killings of journalist and human rights defender Abdul Latif Baloch and his son, Saif Baloch and the arbitrary arrest of rights activist Gulzar Dost Baloch.
Dr. Baloch said the UN’s acknowledgment of these abuses should serve as a wake-up call for the global community to act decisively against systematic state repression in the region.
According to the statement, several UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, have raised grave concern over these incidents.
The UN communication cites reports that Abdul Latif Baloch was shot dead on May 24, 2025, while his son, Saif Baloch, who had allegedly been detained by Pakistani security forces on February 28, was later found dead on March 26 in Awaran District. The letter also highlights the targeting of their relatives and the arrest of Gulzar Dost on July 6, 2025, in Kech District, under terrorism-related allegations.
Dr. Naseem Baloch reiterated that the UN’s intervention underscores the severity of Pakistan’s human rights abuses in Balochistan and called on UN member states, human rights organizations and international watchdogs to sustain pressure on Pakistan to ensure justice, accountability, and protection for the Baloch people.
