Amnesty International South Asia has stated concerning the Baloch Long March, which began on December 6, 2023, from Turbat, Balochistan, and has since reached Islamabad.
The march was initiated in response to the extrajudicial killing of Balach Mola Bakhsh and is predominantly led by women and families of those who have been forcibly disappeared. The protesters have been staging a sit-in in Islamabad for the last 16 days.
In its statement, Amnesty International expressed deep concern over the human rights violations resulting from enforced disappearances, highlighting the impact on the right to life and liberty of the disappeared individuals and the economic and social rights of their families.
Amnesty International noted the violence encountered by Baloch protesters in Islamabad. The participants in the Long March have faced police brutality, detentions, and hardships. The organization called for the upholding of the right to protest for those participating in the Baloch Long March and urged the provision of effective protection against threats and intimidation.
Amnesty International stressed the need for the Government of Pakistan to provide full and effective reparations to the victims and their families. This includes addressing hardships through compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition.
The statement further called for impartial investigations into all cases of enforced disappearances, particularly in Balochistan, in accordance with international standards. It also urged the criminalization of enforced disappearance in accordance with international human rights laws and best practices.
In its conclusion, Amnesty International underscored the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the ongoing challenges faced by the public movement against enforced disappearances in Balochistan.