A Japanese human rights advocate, Shun Fujiki, has raised concerns over human rights violations in Balochistan during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Speaking at the Council’s 61st session, Fujiki criticised Pakistan over what he described as a deteriorating human rights situation in Balochistan. Addressing delegates, he urged them to consider the plight of families searching for missing relatives, describing an environment marked by fear and uncertainty.
According to figures cited in his statement, more than 1,200 cases of enforced disappearances were reported in Balochistan during 2025, including women and at least 75 students. He further claimed that over 1,000 individuals remain missing, while allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings and unlawful detention continue to surface. These figures and claims could not be independently verified.
Fujiki also alleged that Pakistani authorities are allowing unchecked exploitation of Balochistan’s natural resources. He stated that despite the province’s significant reserves of copper and gold, local communities continue to face poverty while external actors benefit from resource extraction.
He expressed concern over the displacement of local populations without their consent, describing such actions as inconsistent with international legal frameworks, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
In his remarks, Fujiki also referred to the continued detention of Baloch human rights activist Mahrang Baloch, claiming she has been held for over a year following a peaceful protest. He characterised her case as indicative of broader patterns of state repression.
Describing the situation as a “crisis of dignity and justice,” Fujiki questioned what he termed the limited international response and warned against ignoring the issue. He called on the Human Rights Council to take concrete measures, including independent investigations in key areas such as Reko Diq.
He further urged that international funding linked to projects in the region be conditioned on safeguards such as local consent, employment guarantees, and poverty reduction measures.
Concluding his address, Fujiki warned that delays in delivering justice risk amounting to a denial of justice, and noted that calls for international attention to the situation in Balochistan are increasing.
Pakistani authorities have not issued an immediate response to the remarks made during the session.