UN human rights experts have asked Pakistan to address human rights violations in Balochistan, expressing alarm at the unrelenting use of enforced disappearances in the province and condemning reports of widespread torture, extrajudicial killings and indiscriminate violence by its security forces.
The experts expressed serious concern over the “excessive and harmful impacts” of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures in Balochistan and called for full respect for international law, according to a statement issued by the UN human rights body on Tuesday.
“Pakistan appears to conflate legitimate human and minority rights advocacy and public demonstrations with terrorism, threatening freedoms of expression, assembly, and association,” the experts said. “Repeated internet blackouts in Balochistan have impeded freedom of information, transparency, accountability, political participation, and civic space.” PTI
