Baloch National Movement condemns Pakistan’s fencing in Gwadar city

In the wake of the Pakistan government’s decision to erect fencing in Gwadar city of Balochistan, the Baloch National Movement has condemned the act and said that the action is similar to tactics in colonized areas.

In the statement, BNM said, “This strategy reflects the historical pattern seen in colonized areas, where colonizers fear local residents to legitimate claims on lands, coastlines and resources. Local populations respond to imposed authority and decisions. There is widespread dissatisfaction.”

Baloch united to protest against Gwadar fencing#Gwadar city, located in possession #balochistan, Currently fencing work is going on by Pakistan under the guise of security measures. This strategy reflects historical patterns seen in colonized areas, where the colonizers fear… pic.twitter.com/WyWYTohXxB

– BNM (@BNMovement_) 1 May 2024

The organization in its statement claimed that the fencing is an act of marginalization and displacing the residents of Balochistan and the Baloch community and that introducing special entry cards, the fencing is an attack on the freedom of the Baloch community. Calling upon the Baloch people, BNM said that the people should reject these imposed allegations and unite in organized resistance against such encroachment on their rights.

Meanwhile, BNM also organized a rally in Busan city of South Korea to raise awareness about the atrocities committed by Pakistani administration on the Baloch community. BNM members not only distributed pamphlets but speakers like Hafsa Baloch, Sameer Baloch, Aga Faiz and Bakhtawar Baloch addressed the gathered participants.

The forcibly occupied province of Balochistan often faces many other problems at the hands of the Pakistani administration. The most significant problem facing the Baloch community at present is the issue of enforced disappearances, which is resulting in people being abducted allegedly by defense and intelligence agencies.

Prominent Baloch rights activist Mehrang Baloch recently raised the same issue while participating in the Asma Jahangir conference in Lahore. Raising the issue of enforced disappearances, Mehrang Baloch said, “The cases of enforced disappearances have been a curse for the people of Balochistan. This is not just a crime against humanity, but a tool used by the state to suppress the Baloch people and plunder their resources. For more than 20 years, Baloch women as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives have been fighting for the safe return of their loved ones. “Women are often subjected to corporal punishment and subjected to sexual and physical harassment.”

“Many places in Balochistan Awaran, Bolan and Kohlu have jails for women who participate in protests against the Pakistani administration demanding the safe return of their loved ones. Women are often given harsh punishments in these prisons. There are also cases where women are kidnapped to put pressure on these protesters. They are often sent to military and death squad camps where they are sexually and physically abused. We have also come across cases where young girls are forced to marry members of death squads,” he said.

Asma Jahangir was a prominent human rights lawyer from Pakistan and was also the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran during her lifetime, receiving the prestigious United Nations Human Rights Award. A report by the UN Human Rights Council said the award was posthumously awarded to Jahangir, who died in his home country of Pakistan in early 2018 at the age of 66.