Baloch activists allege human rights abuses at UN Human Rights Council

During the 63rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Baloch activists and representatives raised allegations of systemic human rights violations by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan.

Munir Mengal, President of the Baloch Voice Association, testified regarding the racial profiling and discrimination of Baloch students at universities in Punjab, Sindh, and Islamabad. He alleged that students face surveillance, harassment, false charges, and enforced disappearances under the guise of national security.

Representatives from the Baloch National Movement (BNM) also addressed the Council, describing the conduct of Pakistani authorities as ‘state terrorism’. They cited instances of arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Specifically, BNM member Ahmed Baloch reported that a Pakistani Army airstrike in Surab on September 12, 2026, killed six civilians, including a woman and a two-year-old child.

Additionally, Mahrah Baloch highlighted the specific hardships faced by Baloch women and girls, noting the social and economic consequences resulting from the enforced disappearances of their family members. The activists called for independent monitoring of the region and transparent investigations into the alleged abuses.