A delegation of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) met with various representatives of the Dutch Parliament, in which a detailed discussion was held on the ongoing serious human rights violations in Balochistan.
On this occasion, the BNM delegation apprised the Dutch Parliament delegation of the current situation in Balochistan and also submitted a formal petition.
The BNM delegation was led by Muheem Abdul Raheem Baloch, President of the Netherlands Chapter, while the delegation included paank Media Coordinator Jamal Baloch, Chapter Vice President Waheed Baloch, General Secretary Deedag Baloch, Finance Secretary Bahar Baloch, Abid Baloch and Zohra Baloch. Jamal Baloch presented the situation in Balochistan to the Dutch parliamentary representatives.
During the meeting, the delegation said that serious and systematic human rights violations by Pakistani forces are ongoing in Balochistan. Military operations, bombing of houses, drone strikes and enforced disappearances have become the norm. They said that now, along with men, women are also being subjected to enforced disappearances, while those who raise their voices against these atrocities and human rights violations are also being made victims of enforced disappearances.
The delegation further said that the leaders of the Baloch Yakjahti Committee, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Beebo Baloch, Beeberg Baloch and Shahji Sibghatullah Baloch, have been imprisoned without any charges for raising their voices against human rights violations in Balochistan.
The BNM delegation said that hundreds of people, including women and children, have been killed so far as a result of drone attacks carried out by Pakistani forces in Balochistan, while thousands of people have been forced to migrate from their areas due to cruelty and barbarity.
The delegation also raised questions on the EU’s ‘GSP+’ status granted to Pakistan in the context of human rights violations in Balochistan. They said that the EU has reserved the GSP+ status for countries that uphold human rights, labour rights, democratic freedoms and international conventions. Not only political activists but also women and students are victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, while those who raise their voices for human rights are being targeted. In such a situation, granting European trade privileges to Pakistan undermines international human rights principles.
In this context, the BNM delegation demanded from the representatives of the Dutch Parliament that the agreements related to arms and military equipments between the Netherlands and Pakistan should be immediately reviewed, as the arms supplied from the Netherlands are being used against the Baloch civilian population in Balochistan. The delegation stressed that the arms deals with Pakistan should be cancelled and Pakistan should be held internationally accountable for human rights violations.
The BNM delegation concluded by saying that it is not only the responsibility of the Dutch government but also of the European Union to pay serious attention to human rights violations in Balochistan, take urgent steps to protect human rights, and fulfill its international obligations to promote justice, equality, and human dignity in the region.
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