London:
On 10 December 2022, on the occasion of Human Rights Day, Sindhi Baloch Forum (SBF) convened a one-day conference in Sindhi Centre, London to discuss the human rights challenges facing the Baloch and Sindhi people in Pakistan and Iran.
At the widely attended conference, distinguished speakers including Dr Lakhu Luhana of World Sindhi Congress, Hassan Hamdam of the Baloch Human Rights Council, Hassan Dost of Baloch National Movement, Justice Shamsuddin Chaudhry Manik, a former judge of the supreme court of Bangladesh, Ayesha Siddiqa of SOAS discussed various aspects of human rights atrocities being committed by the Pakistani authorities in Sindh and Balochistan. They also expressed grave concern about the silence and inactivity of the regional and international powers to mitigate the sufferings of the Sindhi and Baloch people.
A moment of silence was observed to remember the victim of the state’s human rights abuses in Sindh and Balochistan. A video documentary produced by the World Sindhi Congress showed how the Pakistani authorities deliberately drowned Sindh during the recent devastating rains in Pakistan. Another video documentary by the Baloch Human Rights Council showed the persisting systematic human rights violations committed by Pakistan in Balochistan.
In another session of the conference focused on the human rights situation in Western Balochistan, Rahim Bandovi of Balochistan People’s Party, Jamshaid Amiri of the Baloch Human Rights Council highlighted the extra-judicial killings and summary executions of the Baloch in Iran whilst Abdulla Arif of Baloch Activists Campaign gave a brief presentation concerning the socio-cultural, and economic exploitation of the Baloch by the Iranian authorities.
The speakers agreed that it is imperative for the Baloch and Sindh issues to be recognized and addressed so their people live a life free of violence and humiliation.