Balochistan Crisis: Rights Group Accuses Pakistan of Systematic Abuses Against Women

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The Baloch National Movement’s human rights wing, Paank, has leveled explosive allegations against Pakistan’s military establishment, accusing it of systemic human rights violations targeting Baloch women. In a scathing Sunday statement, the group documented cases of enforced disappearances, torture, and unlawful detention of female activists, describing these actions as flagrant violations of both international law and Pakistan’s own legal framework.

The report highlights the 2006 disappearance of schoolteacher Zarina Marri as the start of a disturbing pattern, alleging she endured years of physical and sexual torture while held incommunicado. Recent cases include the arbitrary arrests of prominent activists Mahrang Baloch and Gulzadi Baloch during peaceful protests demanding justice for missing persons. “This isn’t counterterrorism, it’s institutionalized gender-based violence masquerading as security operations,” stated a Panak spokesperson, condemning what they call the military’s “red line” violations in Pakistan’s resource-rich but restive province.

While Balochistan contributes significantly to Pakistan’s economy through its mineral wealth and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, its residents face what rights monitors describe as collective punishment for separatist sentiments. The allegations gain credibility from Pakistan’s documented history of enforced disappearances over 2,000 cases since 2021 according to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED). Notably, the report criticizes global feminist organizations for their selective outrage, asking why abuses against Baloch women don’t merit the same attention as conflicts elsewhere.

As international scrutiny grows, Pakistan faces mounting pressure to either substantiate its security claims or cease operations violating basic human dignity. The situation presents a critical test for global institutions: will they uphold universal human rights principles consistently, or allow geopolitical considerations to dictate when violations warrant condemnation? For Baloch women caught between military oppression and global indifference, the answer may determine their very survival.