A delegation from the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and its human rights department, Paank, urged the United Nations to intervene over the life sentence handed to Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrang Baloch during a meeting with a UN rights expert in Geneva last week.
Paank said in a statement that the delegation met Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, and briefed her on what it described as persecution and harassment faced by Baloch women human rights defenders.
The delegation described Mahrang Baloch’s sentence as a “deliberate attempt to crush peaceful dissent” and called for her immediate release.
It also urged the United Nations to help ensure protection for women involved in human rights work in Balochistan.
The delegation included BNM Chairman Dr Naseem Baloch, Foreign Secretary Faheem Baloch, Niaz Zehri, Hakeem Wadela and Paank Media Coordinator Jamal Baloch.