At Westminster Hall in London, John McDonnell and Jim Shannon, two British parliamentarians from the Labor Party, addressed the issues of human rights and history in Balochistan, a region of strategic importance in the area.
McDonnell said that Balochistan, a region rich in natural resources, has a strategic location in the area. He explained that Balochistan is named after the Baloch people, who have lived there for centuries. However, he said that Balochistan suffers from economic difficulties and widespread poverty, despite its abundant resources. He also said that the local population does not benefit from the “exploitation” of their resources. He expressed his concern over the possible displacement of the locals due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar project that involves several sub-projects in the region.
McDonnell said that Balochistan was briefly an independent nation on August 11, 1947. He said that Pakistan’s founding leader, Jinnah, initially supported Balochistan’s independence, but later changed his mind and sent the Pakistan army to invade and annex the region. “We have debated this over a number of years – there has been a saga of struggles for independence, marked by a persistent resistance and repeated insurgencies. The trigger for the renewed phase was the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a prominent Baloch leader, in 2006. That event sparked widespread unrest, leading to growing momentum for the Baloch independence movement,” he said.
He also talked about the culture and socio-political structure of the Baloch society. He said that the Baloch culture faces several challenges, especially the suppression of the Balochi and Brahui languages, which are integral to the Baloch identity. He said that the official institutions of the state of Pakistan have neglected and marginalized these languages, which undermines the Baloch people’s ability to express themselves and maintain their cultural identity.
Jim Shannon, the MP for Strangford, highlighted the women-led movement in Balochistan that advocates for the safe return of Baloch missing persons, the end to extrajudicial killings, military operations, and state brutality. He said these “shocking atrocities” must be immediately stopped.
McDonnell urged the parliament to acknowledge that the situation in Balochistan is marked by severe human rights violations and demands the attention of the parliament and the international community. He said that international human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have highlighted and condemned the widespread abuse taking place in Balochistan. He said that these groups have also called for accountability and an end to the impunity enjoyed by the security forces.
McDonnell addressed the enforced disappearances in Balochistan and the issue of Baloch missing persons. He called it a “horrific practice” and claimed that they were carried out by the Pakistani security forces. “These individuals are often taken without any due process, held incommunicado, and subjected to torture,” he said.
He said that many victims of enforced disappearance often reappear as dead bodies, bearing signs of severe torture. “This brutality – what is described as the ‘kill and dump’ policy – has left families shattered and communities traumatized. It has created an atmosphere of fear and silence in many areas,” he said.
McDonnell also criticized the Pakistani state’s refusal to allow peaceful assembly and protest by the Baloch people. Shannon agreed with him and said that the Long March Against Baloch Genocide was a peaceful demonstration to demand an end to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state-sponsored atrocities in Balochistan. “The marchers faced violence by the state authorities and were abused and arrested after reaching Islamabad,” he said.
Shannon added that the protesters in Islamabad were beaten, dragged to prisons, and threatened, intimidated, and harassed by the police. He said that Dr. Mahrang, who led the march, has faced threats and her life is in danger. He said that enforced disappearances have only increased in Balochistan and have become the norm now.
Both parliamentarians urged the international community to pay attention to the human rights catastrophe unfolding in Balochistan. They called for an end to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, human rights abuses, and military operations. They said that Baloch people should be given rights over their own natural resources, and their culture and heritage should be protected.