QUETTA — A Baloch human rights body has raised strong objections against
the recent Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed by the
Balochistan Assembly in Pakistan, terming it a threat to human rights and the
rule of law.
In a statement on Friday, the Baloch Voice for Justice
(BVJ) condemned the passage of the Bill as a "deeply troubling
development" that undermines constitutional protections and international
human rights standards.
"The legislation grants sweeping powers to state
agencies, enabling the detention of individuals for up to three months without
judicial oversight, thereby institutionalising the risk of arbitrary arrests,
torture, and enforced disappearances," read the statement issued by the
BVJ.
"The use of the Balochistan Assembly to legitimise
such repressive measures marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing human
rights crisis in the region. This amendment effectively provides legal cover
for security forces to operate with impunity, bypass due process, and silence
political dissent, human rights defenders, and peaceful activists," it
further added.
The BVJ emphasised that the Bill stands in clear
violation of Pakistan's obligations under international human rights law,
including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and
the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
Highlighting that rather than addressing the underlying
grievances and political demands of the Baloch people, the BVJ stated that the
Pakistani government intends to deepen repression and fear through coercive
legislation.
"We therefore call upon the United Nations,
international human rights bodies, and democratic governments to intervene and
hold Pakistan accountable to its international commitments. Silencing people will
not bring peace. Only justice and accountability can," the human rights
body stated.
Additionally, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights
Department, Paank, also unequivocally condemned the Bill, asserting that it
aggravates the human rights crisis in Balochistan.
The rights body highlighted that the legislation risks
legitimising state-sponsored abuses and further entrenches a climate of fear,
where political dissent and civilian expression are systematically suppressed
under the pretext of counter-terrorism.
"Balochistan has long endured severe human rights
violations, exemplified by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and
torture. For instance, families have reported loved ones, including activists
and students, being abducted by security forces without legal recourse, often
leaving them in anguish for years," Paank stated
"In 2025 alone, the Paank documented over sixty-six
cases of extrajudicial killings of individuals previously in state custody.
Peaceful protests, such as those led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC),
have faced violent crackdowns, with security forces firing on demonstrators, as
seen in the July 2024 Gwadar gathering where 14 were injured," it added.
The human rights body revealed that Pakistan uses the
Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) Ordinance as a key tool in silencing
dissent, notably used against BYC leadership Mahrang Baloch, along with
activists Bebarg Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Beebow Baloch, and Shahji
Sibghatullah, who were detained under the draconian law during a non-violent
protest in Quetta.
The rights body urged the international community, human
rights defenders, and civil society to demand the immediate repeal of the
Anti-Terrorism Bill 2025, the release of detained activists, and an independent
investigation into human rights violations in Balochistan, adding that the
systematic targeting of civilians and activists must end to restore justice and
dignity.
