Zepten, Netherlands : During an official ceremony held in the Dutch city of Zepten, Basit Zaheer Baloch, a representative of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), called on the European Union to immediately suspend Pakistan’s GSP+ trade status.
Speaking at the event organized by the Zepten Municipality, Basit Zaheer Baloch highlighted the grave human rights violations occurring in Balochistan, particularly enforced disappearances, unlawful detentions and extrajudicial killings. He stated that Pakistani state institutions are misusing their authority to target thousands of Baloch political activists, students, women and children with abductions, torture and inhumane treatment.
He further emphasized that the GSP+ trade privileges granted to Pakistan by the European Union are conditional upon the respect and promotion of human rights. However, Pakistan has repeatedly violated these conditions. Therefore, continuing to provide such trade benefits to a country that is actively breaching international human rights conventions is fundamentally unjust.
Basit Zaheer Baloch urged the European Union to immediately revoke Pakistan’s GSP+ status, stating that the country is guilty of violating core principles related to human rights, labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance, and is blatantly disregarding its international obligations.
Following the event, BNM representatives distributed informational brochures among participants and organizers, detailing the human rights situation in Balochistan.
