Amnesty International and four other human rights organizations asked Pakistan to free human rights defenders in Baluchistan and end the repression of dissent, according to a statement on the Amnesty website on Wednesday.
Last week, the Superior Court of Baluchistan rejected the constitutional requests that sought the release of the Balochjehti (Byc) committee, Chief Organizer Dr. Mahrang Baloch and two other leaders arrested under section 3 of the Ordinance of Order of Public Orders (MPO). The Byc is a Baloch defense group that has been working against forced disappearances since 2018.
Mahrang and other byc activists were arrested on March 22 for allegedly “attacking” the Civil Hospital of Quetta and “incite people to violence”, a day after their members faced a police repression in Quetta while protested against alleged forced disappearances.
A letter dated May 27 was addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and signed by Amnesty, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia), the first-line defenders (FLD), the International Federation of Human Rights and the World Organization against Torture, which work under the framework of observation for the protection of human rights defenders.
The groups said they firmly condemned the alleged “harassment and arbitrary detention of Baloch’s human rights defenders who exercise their rights to freedom of expression and the Pacific Assembly in Pakistan, particularly in Baluchistan.”
“The actions of his government to systematically harass the DRHs, raising his voice against forced disappearances and other illegal state practices, in conflict with the international human rights obligations of Pakistan,” the letter claimed.
He added that “attacks against BYC leaders and supporters, who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, not only violate the constitution of Pakistan but also their international legal obligations.”
The Charter pointed out that the Pakistani Constitution guarantees the right to meet peacefully under article 16 and the right to freedom of expression and expression of article 19.
The groups alleged in the letter that repression was launched “in a context of harassment of journalists and a repression of freedom of expression.”
“It is imperative that human rights remain and never sacrifice in the name of security,” said the letter.
The organizations asked Pakistan to “immediately and unconditionally release all Baloch HRD and their relatives arbitrarily detained only to peacefully exercise their rights in line with the right to freedom and security.” In addition, they urged Islamabad to “abandon all charges against HRDs based solely on the exercise of their rights.
“Waiting for their release, guarantee the security of HRD and family members, even sharing precise information about their whereabouts and providing effective access to family members, legal advice and medical treatment.
They asked Pakistan for “conducting an exhaustive, impartial, effective and transparent investigation on the accusations of torture and abuse by the Pakistani authorities of Baloch HRDS under detention.”
Organizations also urged the end of repression against HRD, journalists, protesters and dissidents by ensuring that their right to freedom of expression and the Pacific Assembly are completely protected.
In addition, they asked the Pakistani authorities to “cease all forms” of alleged reprisals against HRD family members. “
