Geneva: At the 34th Meeting of the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), international geopolitical researcher Josh Bowes raised serious concerns over human rights violations in Pakistan, with particular focus on the ongoing crisis in Balochistan.
Bowes highlighted the European Union’s observations regarding Pakistan’s GSP+ status and urged stronger accountability for human rights abuses. Speaking at the session, he noted Pakistan’s low ranking on the World Press Freedom Index, currently at 158th place. He also cited the USCIRF Religious Freedom Report 2025, which reports that over 700 individuals are imprisoned on blasphemy charges—a 300% increase from the previous year.
Bowes drew attention to atrocities against the Baloch population, stating, “The Baloch National Movement’s Human Rights Body, Paank, documented 785 enforced disappearances and 121 killings in the first half of 2025 alone. The Pashtun National Jirga reports that 4,000 Pashtuns remain missing this year.” He concluded by urging the UNHRC to strengthen monitoring of human rights in Pakistan and explore cooperative mechanisms with the EU under Item 8.
During the session, human rights activist Arif Aajakia also criticized Pakistan, highlighting ongoing military operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He reported widespread extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, with families of missing persons staging repeated protests.
“Thousands of peaceful Baloch and Pashtun citizens remain missing at the hands of state forces. Mass graves have been discovered, and women and children protesting for their missing relatives are often met with baton charges and arrests. Dr. Mahrang Baloch is one of many held in incommunicado detention,” Aajakia stated.
He further criticized Pakistan’s recently introduced provisional order allowing security forces to detain individuals for up to 90 days without court appearance, calling it inconsistent with international treaties. Aajakia urged the Council to press Pakistan to uphold fundamental rights and to send a UN fact-finding mission to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
