London, 29 January 2025 – A conference addressing gross human rights violations in Sindh and Balochistan was held today at 2 PM in Committee Room No. 8 of the House of Commons, London. The event was hosted by British MP Bob Blackman and organized by the Asian Human Rights Forum (AHRF) in collaboration with the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) and the World Sindh Congress (WSC). The room was filled with participants from various human rights organizations and advocacy groups, highlighting the significance of the issue at hand.
During his opening remarks, Bob Blackman MP underscored the importance of the conference, emphasizing Britain’s commitment to upholding human rights globally. He acknowledged the alarming content of the AHRF’s distributed booklet, which detailed serious allegations of human rights abuses in Pakistan. He expressed concern over the country’s track record, stating, “Pakistan is a recipient of a significant amount of aid from our government, and we must ensure that its people are granted their fundamental human rights.” He assured attendees that the UK government would closely monitor the situation in Pakistan.
Arif Aajakia of the AHRF expressed gratitude to MP Blackman for hosting the conference and providing a platform for the oppressed communities of Sindh and Balochistan. He accused the Pakistan Army of forcefully occupying these regions and exploiting their natural resources without benefiting the local populations.
Dr. Hidayatullah Bhutto of the WSC elaborated on the plight of Sindh, specifically condemning the illegal allotment of agricultural lands to the Pakistan Army for corporate farming. He asserted that Sindhis would never allow such unlawful land seizures and accused the military-controlled federal government of plundering Sindh’s resources while denying its people basic civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
Dr. Khurshed Karim of the BHRC highlighted the dire situation of Baloch missing persons, accusing the Pakistan Army of committing genocide in Balochistan. He stated that Balochistan was historically independent but has been under illegal occupation by Pakistan since 1947. Despite being rich in natural resources, he noted, the region’s wealth is being looted by the military while its people are deprived of essential healthcare and education. He further accused the military of abducting Baloch men and keeping them in illegal detention without presenting them in court, leading to an alarming increase in the number of missing persons.
Ms. Hafeezan Wadhio of the WSC presented concerns regarding the Indus River water crisis. She highlighted how Punjab has diverted water from the Indus through excessive canal constructions, depriving Sindh of its fair share of water for both household and agricultural use.
The conference concluded with a vote of thanks to MP Bob Blackman and a strong appeal to the British government to pressure Pakistan into restoring human rights and addressing the grievances of the oppressed communities in Sindh and Balochistan.
