In Washington D.C., a briefing at Capitol Hill brought to light the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in the regions of Balochistan and Sindh. The event, organized by Congressman Brad Sherman, was attended by prominent figures from the Baloch and Sindhi communities, including Waheed Baloch, the ex-chairperson of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO).
Congressman Sherman, addressing the attendees, highlighted the United States’ position on these concerns. He clarified that although the U.S. does not interfere in Pakistan’s internal matters, it remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing human rights violations occurring in Pakistan.
On the social media platform ‘X’, Sherman shared insights from his discussions with Sufi Laghari and Fatima of the Sindhi Foundation, commending their efforts to combat enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
He particularly highlighted the case of MahRang Baloch, a leader in the protests against these human rights violations. “Mahrang Baloch was 16 when Pakistani security forces abducted her father, who was found dead two years later. She is now a part of a women-led protest in Islamabad, calling for an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” he wrote.
The Congressman underscored the urgency for Pakistan to address these human rights violations: “Pakistan must put an end to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan and Sindh,” he asserted.
Waheed Baloch, speaking at the event, pointed out the universal inhumanity of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, stating that no person with human empathy could support such actions.
Andrea Barron from the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition emphasized the importance of American policymakers being informed about these issues. T. Kumar, a former Director at Amnesty International, warned that if such practices continue, they will erode the moral fabric of Pakistani society.
The event also featured heartfelt testimonies from members of the Baloch and Sindhi communities, who shared personal experiences of enforced disappearances, adding a deeply human perspective to the discussions.