Baloch expatriates protest in London and Amsterdam against Pakistani atrocities in Balochistan

The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM), a Baloch organisation advocating Baloch independence from Pakistan, held a protest outside the British Prime Minister’s official residence in London to raise awareness about enforced disappearances in Balochistan, media outlet Balochvarna reported.

According to reports on Saturday, the protesters carried banners, placards and pictures of missing persons, raising slogans against the grave human rights violations in Pakistan. “August 30 is the International Day of Missing Persons, and this day is dedicated to standing up and speaking out against this injustice,” Ibra Taj Baloch was quoted as saying by a Balochvarna news report. She mentioned that her father, Mir Taj Mohammad Sarpara, was abducted by the ISI on July 19, 2020, and is still in their custody even after four years.

The gathering was also addressed by FBM Vice President Shahwazar Baloch, who said, “The protest is being held today against the enforced disappearance of people in Balochistan, as thousands of Baloch have been abducted in Pakistan and Iran, causing severe hardships to their families.”

British activist Heather Jones, who took part in the protest, told Balochvarna News, “I am a common citizen and I am here today to express my solidarity with the Baloch people against the heinous crime of enforced disappearances. I was very saddened to know that there is hardly a home in Balochistan that has not been affected by abductions.”

he/she also urged the British Government to take a tough stand against the Pakistani authorities and make it clear that the genocide of the Baloch people is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately.

Members of the Free Balochistan Movement as well as a large number of Baloch residents living in the UK and British human rights activists also participated in the protest.

A similar protest was held in Amsterdam on the same day, focusing on the issue of enforced disappearances by Pakistani security forces. The protest was also attended by members of the Baloch community and Pashtun human rights activist Zar Ali Khan Afridi.

Latif Baloch, who participated in the protest, called on international organizations to pay attention to the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan and said that the daily mental and physical torture inflicted by the Pakistani army is unacceptable and intolerable.

The report also said that Obaidullah Baloch, a member of the executive council of the Free Balochistan Movement, described Pakistan and Iran’s occupation as the main source of human rights violations. he/she criticized Pakistan for exploiting Balochistan’s resources while violating the rights of its people.

Pashtun activist Zar Ali Khan Afridi linked genocide of the Baloch and Pashtun communities to Pakistani military operations, and stressed the urgent need for international intervention to address and end these injustices.

The Free Balochistan Movement called on international organisations to hold Pakistan and Iran accountable and take immediate steps to protect the fundamental rights to freedom and sovereignty.