Baloch Rights Groups Spotlight Religious Extremism Imposed by Pakistan in UN Letter

BHRC and CGJWE have accused Pakistan of enforcing religious extremism on the Baloch community to undermine national aspirations. The organizations highlight tactics such as disappearances, economic exploitation, and media blackouts in their letter to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the 57th UNHRC session.

In a serious allegation before the UN, Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) and Centre for Gender Justice and Women Empowerment (CGJWE) accused Pakistan of systematically imposing religious extremism on the Baloch community. This was outlined in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The organizations detailed the Pakistani state's multifaceted strategies to suppress Baloch national aspirations, emphasizing the growing role of religious radicalization as a state tool for oppression. They highlighted tactics including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, economic exploitation, and media blackouts aimed at erasing the Baloch identity.

According to the letter, Pakistan's methods to curb Baloch aspirations are diverse, encompassing arrests of political activists, a 'kill and dump' policy, and media isolation. Additionally, a concerted effort to introduce religious fundamentalism has sought to suppress the Balochi language and cultural traditions, distorting historical narratives, and economically exploiting the Baloch. The organizations called for the UN to pressure Pakistan to cease its imposition of religious extremism on the secular Baloch society.

(With inputs from agencies.)