Activist Shun Fujiki Slams Pakistan at UNHRC Over Balochistan Crisis

At the UNHRC, Japanese activist Shun Fujiki condemned Pakistan for alleged rights abuses in Balochistan, highlighting over 1,200 enforced disappearances in 2025, resource exploitation, and the detention of activists like Dr Mahrang Baloch.

At the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Japanese human rights activist, Shun Fujiki, in his oral statement, sharply criticised Pakistan over alleged human rights violations in Balochistan. Addressing the council, Fujiki urged delegates to "imagine Baloch mothers desperately searching" for their loved ones, describing a grim reality marked by fear and uncertainty.

Alarming Statistics on Enforced Disappearances

He claimed that in 2025 alone, more than 1,200 enforced disappearances were recorded in Balochistan, including women and at least 75 students. According to the statement, over 1,000 individuals remain missing, with allegations of torture, extrajudicial killings, and unlawful detentions continuing to surface.

Economic Exploitation and Rights Violations

He further accused Pakistani authorities of enabling unchecked exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources. He asserted that despite the province's vast reserves of copper and gold, local communities remain impoverished while external actors benefit disproportionately. He also raised concerns over the displacement of indigenous communities without consent, calling it a violation of international frameworks such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Targeting of Peaceful Activists

The continued detention of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch, reportedly held for over a year following a peaceful protest, was cited as an example of state repression.

A Plea for International Intervention

Calling the situation "a crisis of dignity and justice," he questioned the international community's inaction, warning against allowing "an entire people to fade into silence."

He urged the UNHRC to take concrete steps, including launching independent fact-finding missions in key areas like Reko Diq, and pressuring Pakistan to ratify international conventions related to enforced disappearances and indigenous rights.

He also recommended that international funding be conditional upon verified community consent, local employment guarantees, and measurable poverty reduction. The address concluded with a stark warning: "Justice delayed is justice denied," as calls grew louder for global intervention in what was described as a worsening humanitarian situation in Balochistan.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)