Staffordshire, UK: The United Kingdom (UK) chapter of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Staffordshire Unit, organized a meeting on Thursday to shed light on the plight of Baloch missing persons and the role of international advocacy bodies.
The event, hosted by Kifayat Ullah Baloch, featured Mir Bilal Khan as the keynote speaker. His address focused on “Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, the Role of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and Its Impact on International Societies.”
The session began with a minute of silence led by the Unit Secretary, honoring those who sacrificed their lives for Balochistan’s independence and the struggle for Baloch rights. The Secretary also provided a historical overview of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) and BYC, dedicating the meeting to the recently martyred student leader, Zubair Baloch.
The Deputy Secretary paid tribute to the martyrs of the Baloch national struggle and acknowledged those still resisting oppression. He also highlighted VBMP’s longstanding work in documenting enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch people.
The discussion emphasized VBMP’s 16 years of commitment to the issue of missing persons and explained how BYC leadership launched awareness campaigns within Pakistan’s legal framework, exposing systematic human rights violations in Balochistan. Despite their lawful activism, BYC leaders continue to face imprisonment under fabricated charges.
Participants also examined the role of international courts and United Nations mechanisms, stressing the urgent need for greater global attention on Pakistan’s human rights violations. They noted how BNM diaspora chapters remain active internationally by engaging with working groups, participating in seminars and raising cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings at the United Nations and other forums.
The General Secretary of BNM UK also attended the event, expressing solidarity and reaffirming the organization’s commitment to advocating for justice and freedom for the Baloch nation.
