• Activists seek political solution to Balochistan crisis • Demand unconditional release of Mahrang, other protesters
• Call for halting canals project, abolition of Peca

KARACHI: Expressing concerns over an alarming increase in human rights violations in the country, rights activists and members of civil society on Thursday demanded a political solution to the Balochistan crisis, an end to enforced disappearances and an immediate halt to the controversial canals project.

They also demanded an unconditional release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen and all those detained after the recent protests and the abolition of all oppressive laws, including the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (Peca).

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in collaboration with the civil society, including human rights defenders, labour rights activists, political activists, the academia and lawyers, made these demands at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC).

They stressed the need to know as to why the state sees people like them as terrorists even though they are only demanding justice and raising their voices for their rights as citizens of Pakistan.

They said that religious extremism continued to be weaponised against marginalised groups, particularly in Punjab against the Ahmadiyya community. The growing influence of militants in in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has left ordinary people increasingly vulnerable to violence and extortion, creating a climate of constant fear.

In Sindh, protests against the controversial construction of canals on the Indus have intensified, given that any such move would be a direct assault on people’s environmental rights, they said.

They called on the federal and provincial governments to urgently address multiple human rights crises across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, HRCP chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt said that the situation was critical and alarming.

He pointed out many other recent happenings that raised concerns such as projects like the “Green Initiative that has given corporate and military entities unfair control of the country’s natural resources” while ignoring indigenous communities, the “might is right” behaviour of law enforcement agencies, which is making the people lose faith even in the judiciary.

“And instead of finding solutions to the grievances of people, instead of holding dialogue with them, the state seems more interested in controlling those who question the wrongs,” said the HRCP chairperson.

“In a way, through its rigid stance, the state itself is pushing those who feel that they are being wronged to come out on the roads to protest. And then they are labelled as ‘terrorists’,” he said.

Further issues highlighted by Mr Butt include unemployment and the failure of employers in paying workers the minimum wage, lack of land reforms and the Peca law being used to control the media. He said all these things were turning the country into a “harsh state”.

Speaking on the occasion, former Sindh High Court Bar Association president Barrister Salahuddin said that it would be naive to think that the government would eventually soften its stance though it should understand that it cannot fight on multiple fronts.

“The state is fighting the Taliban, it is also fighting those who are against the Taliban, it is known to also be behind missing persons, it is against freedom of speech, it is against protesting, it is behind the digging of canals on the Indus, it is the cause of so much resentment among the masses and it is also closing all the forums for addressing these issues,” he said. “Basically, what the state is doing is throwing everything into a pressure cooker while sealing its pressure valve to prevent the steam from escaping to release pressure. This way the pressure cooker will explode. Don’t shut out your people. Otherwise you’ll have a civil war on your hands,” he said.

Representing the academia, Dr Riaz Shaikh spoke about a new trend of blocking press clubs, including the KPC. “...this is where people come to raise their voices against injustices. You must not take that away from them, at least,” he said.

Secretary General of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) Nasir Mansoor said that it was sad to see the harsh attitude of law enforcement agencies against protesters.

“Protesting is their democratic right,” he said while lamenting over the use of foul language by police when they were arresting Sammi Deen.

Mahnaz Rahman, senior member of civil society, said that the state should be like a caring mother for its people.

Jeay Sindh Mahaz chairman Khalid Junejo said that Sindh and Balochistan are treated as if they were colonies of an imperial government.

Former chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Nuzhat Shirin said that what is happening today is even worse than what they witnessed and experienced during the dictatorship of General Zia.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025