Protest at 10 Downing Street Highlights Baloch Rights Concerns
Baloch human rights activists staged a protest outside 10 Downing Street in London on June 29, 2026, to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The demonstration urged the international community to take stronger action against alleged human rights abuses in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Leading the demonstration, Baloch political and human rights activist Aomar Karim said the protest was organized to highlight decades of enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, and extrajudicial killings targeting the Baloch people. According to Karim, the gathering brought together activists, journalists, and supporters who expressed solidarity not only with the people of Balochistan but also with oppressed communities worldwide fighting for justice, freedom, and fundamental human rights.
Call for International Action on Torture and Disappearances
Karim called on the international community to break its silence over the plight of victims of torture and enforced disappearances. He emphasized that the voices of those who have been silenced must continue to be heard on global platforms. The protest comes at a time of heightened international attention on Pakistan's human rights record following the life imprisonment of prominent Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch.
Rights groups and Baloch organizations have condemned the verdict, calling it politically motivated and part of a wider crackdown on peaceful political dissent. Pakistani authorities, however, maintain that legal proceedings are conducted in accordance with the country's laws.
Longstanding Concerns Over Human Rights in Balochistan
For years, international human rights organizations have raised concerns over allegations of enforced disappearances, custodial torture, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the shrinking space for peaceful political activism in Balochistan. Families of missing persons have repeatedly organized protests, demanding information about their loved ones and accountability from the authorities.
According to data from human rights groups, hundreds of Baloch activists and political workers have been reported missing or detained in recent years. The London protest concluded with calls for international human rights bodies and democratic governments to increase pressure on Pakistan to ensure accountability, uphold the rule of law, and protect the fundamental rights of the people of Balochistan.
