Geneva, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
British Labour Party MP John McDonnell has called on the UK government to take a more proactive role in addressing alleged human rights abuses by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan, citing Britain’s colonial history as a basis for what he described as a “special responsibility”.
Speaking virtually at the 12th Balochistan International Conference organised by the Baloch National Movement (BNM) at the Geneva Press Club on Thursday, McDonnell said British ministers should help address alleged human rights violations and recognise the Baloch people’s demands for “peace, justice and the right to self-determination”.
McDonnell told participants that he had continued to provide political and diplomatic support in Britain to Baloch people affected by what he described as Pakistani repression and said he would maintain that position.
He also stressed that the British government should recognise its responsibilities towards asylum seekers, warning that new restrictions had increased difficulties faced by those seeking asylum.
Meanwhile, Jamal Baloch, media coordinator of human-rights organisation Paank, presented figures at the conference on enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other alleged rights violations in Balochistan.
According to Jamal, Paank, described as the human-rights wing of the BNM, documented 485 cases of enforced disappearance over the past six months. He also said the organisation had received information about 181 extrajudicial killings during the same period, with several cases confirmed by Paank.
Citing the organisation’s records, Jamal said an average of 81 people were forcibly disappeared every month in Balochistan, while an average of 30 of those who disappeared were victims of extrajudicial killings.
Jamal said the human-rights situation in Balochistan was often discussed mainly in the context of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, but argued that the problems extended beyond these issues.
Lakhu Lohana, General Secretary of the World Sindhi Congress, also addressed the conference and said Balochistan’s hardships had continued for almost “80 years”.
Rejecting the description of Balochistan as being merely at a political “crossroads”, Lohana said the province was instead “on the path of freedom and liberation”.
He said that besides killings and enforced disappearances, poverty and malnutrition had also resulted in deaths across the province over the past eight decades.
Referring to the United Nations Charter of Human Rights and the international community, Lohana questioned whether the worsening situation in Balochistan could be allowed to continue.
“How many more bodies from Balochistan will have to bleed before they can no longer deny that atrocities are taking place and that they must stop all this?” he said.
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