Pakistan is facing intense scrutiny as multiple human rights crises escalate. A viral video revealing the honour killing of Bano Bibi and Ehsan Ullah in Balochistan sparked national outrage and protests. Authorities have arrested 13 suspects, including a tribal leader and victims’ relatives, after public pressure mounted. Despite the 2016 ban on honour killings, these crimes remain widespread, with 405 documented cases in 2024 alone—many likely unreported.
Enforced disappearances have also surged across Balochistan and Sindh. Rights groups like Paank and BYC report numerous abductions—including civilians, students, and activists—with homes raided and individuals seized in broad daylight. Pakistani authorities are accused of involvement through agencies like CTD and ISI, raising concerns over apartheid-level ethnic repression.
Bravery in activism is met with repression. Gulzar Dost, a prominent Baloch rights defender, was abducted from his home in Turbat on 7 July, then formally charged with “provocative speech against the state.” He remains in custody as advocates demand his immediate release and fair legal process.
In March, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), was arrested during peaceful protests in Quetta. Protesters had gathered to demand justice over the Jaffar Express hijacking and enforced disappearances of civilians. Security forces fired on crowds, resulting in deaths and hundreds detained. Human rights organizations widely condemned the state’s crackdown and misuse of anti-terrorism laws.
Even minors are not spared: a 7‑year‑old boy is being prosecuted under terrorism laws for reposting a speech by Gulzar Dost. Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission has urged authorities to drop the charges, highlighting the inappropriate use of counter-terror provisions against children and critics alike.
In a parallel crackdown, an anti-terrorism court sentenced 108 PTI leaders—including prominent parliamentarians—to 10 years imprisonment. Observers widely interpret the convictions as politically motivated and a deliberate effort to suppress dissent—the latest example of wave of rights erosion under PM Sharif’s government and Army Chief Gen.
