Baloch diaspora protest in London, Amsterdam against Pak atrocities in Balochistan

The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM), a Baloch organisation advocating for Baloch independence from Pakistan, staged a protest outside the British Prime Minister’s official residence in London to raise awareness about enforced disappearances in Balochistan, a media outlet Balochwarna reported.

According to the report in Saturday, protesters carried banners, placards, and pictures of the disappeared, chanting slogans against severe human rights violations in Pakistan. Balochwarna news report quoted Ibra Taj Baloch as saying, “August 30, is International Day of the Disappeared, and this day is dedicated to standing up and speaking out against this injustice.” She mentioned that her father, Mir Taj Mohammad Sarparah, was abducted by the ISI on July 19, 2020, and even after four years, he is still in their custody.

The gathering was also addressed by Shahvazar Baloch, Vice President of the FBM who stated, “The protest is being held today against the enforced disappearances in Balochistan because thousands of Baloch have been abducted in Pakistan and Iran, leading to severe hardships for their families.”

British activist Heather Joans, who participated in the protest, told Balochwarna news, “I am an ordinary citizen, and I am here today to express solidarity with the Baloch against the heinous crime of enforced disappearances. It saddened me deeply to learn that there is hardly a single household in Balochistan that hasn’t been affected by abduction.”

He also urged that the British government take a strong position against the Pakistani authorities, making it clear that the genocide of the Baloch people is unacceptable and must be halted immediately.

Alongside members of the Free Balochistan Movement, a considerable group of Baloch residents living in the UK and British human rights activists took part in the protest.

The day saw a similar protest in Amsterdam, focusing enforced disappearances by the Pakistani Security forces. The demonstration also saw participation from members of the Baloch community and Pashtun human rights activist Zar Ali Khan Afridi.

Latif Baloch, a participant in the protest, called on international organisations to address ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan, highlighting daily mental and physical torture inflicted by Pakistani forces is unacceptable and unbearable.

The report also stated that Obaidullah Baloch, a member of the Free Balochistan Movement’s Executive Council, pointed to the occupation by Pakistan and Iran as the primary source of human rights abuses. He criticized Pakistan for exploiting Balochistan’s resources while infringing on the rights of its people.

Pashtun activist Zar Ali Khan Afridi linked the genocide of Baloch and Pashtun communities to Pakistani military operations, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention to address and end these injustices.

The Free Balochistan Movement called on international organisations to hold Pakistan and Iran accountable and to take immediate steps to protect the fundamental rights to freedom and sovereignty.