Balochistan: Hyrbyair Marri Condemns Pakistani Media and Civil Society’s Double Standards on Human Rights

LONDON: Mr. Hyrbyair Marri, the President of the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM), has stated that Pakistan’s forced annexation of Balochistan was a violation of the region’s sovereignty and identity.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Marri wrote that Pakistan was systematically oppressing and exploiting the Baloch people, reducing their nation to a region defined by militarization, stagnation, and the denial of basic human rights.

“Pakistan forcibly annexed Balochistan, stripping it of its sovereignty and erasing its identity from the world map as a nation, reducing it to a region defined by oppression and exploitation,” Marri wrote.

He emphasised that decades of militarisation have stunted Balochistan’s development, enabling the plundering of its abundant natural resources, and leaving the Baloch people in a state of deprivation.

Marri’s statement also pointed to the widespread neglect of the Baloch people’s most fundamental right: the right to life. He criticised Pakistan’s media and intellectual elite for their silence regarding the suffering of the Baloch, accusing them of actively concealing the atrocities committed by Pakistan’s military in the region.

“In the face of such suffering, Pakistan’s so-called intelligentsia and self-proclaimed advocates of morality remain hesitant to speak out against the brutality faced by the Baloch nation,” Marri continued. “Yet, when protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad on November 24 led to public unrest, the media and civil society were quick to raise alarms about human rights violations and enforced disappearances.”

He further highlighted the hypocrisy of Pakistani civil society, which has shown little concern for the ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan, while responding loudly to incidents in other parts of the country—particularly when military brutalities are directed at Pakistan’s own population, especially ethnic Punjabis.

In his post, Marri also noted that the recent experience of Pakistanis in Islamabad, who faced military crackdowns themselves, provides a glimpse into the brutalities that Baloch citizens have endured for decades. He emphasized that this highlights the double standards and lack of genuine human rights advocacy in Pakistan’s political and civil spheres.

The FBM president’s remarks shed light on the long-standing issues faced by the Baloch people under Pakistan’s occupation, urging the international community to take a more active role in addressing human rights violations and advocating for Balochistan’s independence.

Marri’s comments reflect growing dissatisfaction among the Baloch people, who argue that the international community has long ignored their suffering.