John McDonnell urges the UK to use its historic ties to pressure Pakistan over Balochistan abuses and to ease asylum hurdles.
During a virtual gathering of the 12th Balochistan International Conference, held on 25 September at the Geneva Press Club, Labour MP John McDonnell delivered a stark reminder of Britain’s historic involvement in the region. He argued that the United Kingdom bears a “special responsibility” because of its colonial past, and that this legacy obliges the current government to intervene where human-rights violations are reported.
McDonnell’s remarks were directed at British ministers, urging them to recognise the Baloch people’s call for “peace, justice and the right to self-determination.” He reaffirmed the political and diplomatic assistance he has consistently provided to Baloch activists living in the UK, and signalled his intention to keep that support alive despite the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding Britain’s relationship with Pakistan.
Documented abuses in Balochistan
Sharing the stage, Jamal Baloch, media coordinator for the human-rights wing Paank of the Baloch National Movement, presented alarming statistics gathered over the previous six months. According to Paank’s records, there have been 485 cases of enforced disappearance averaging roughly 81 victims per month.
In the same timeframe, the organization confirmed 181 extrajudicial killings with an estimated 30 of the disappeared persons later found dead.
Paank emphasised that the scope of the crisis extends far beyond the headline figures of disappearances and killings. The data illustrate a systematic pattern of repression that also includes intimidation, torture, and denial of basic civil liberties. By quantifying the daily toll, the group hopes to push the international community, particularly former colonial powers, to acknowledge and act upon the ongoing tragedy.
Broader humanitarian concerns
Beyond the direct violence, Lakhu Lohana, General Secretary of the World Sindhi Congress, expanded the discussion to encompass decades-long deprivation. He recounted that for almost 80 years Balochistan has suffered not only from state-led killings but also from chronic poverty and malnutrition, which claim countless lives silently. Lohana rejected the notion that the province is merely at a “political crossroads,” branding it instead as a region on a determined path toward freedom and liberation.
Addressing the United Nations Charter on human rights, Lohana challenged the conscience of the global audience: “How many more bodies must bleed before the world admits that atrocities are occurring and takes decisive action?” His rhetorical question underscores the urgency felt by activists who see little change despite repeated appeals.
UK asylum policies under scrutiny
McDonnell also turned his focus to Britain’s own asylum framework, warning that recent policy tightening has made it increasingly difficult for Baloch refugees to secure protection. He stressed that the United Kingdom must uphold its international obligations, especially when individuals flee persecution that threatens their very lives. While acknowledging the limits of a single MP’s influence, he pledged to continue lobbying ministers and to seek meetings that could shape a more compassionate and proactive stance.
The MP concluded by reminding listeners that Britain’s historical rule over the region imposes a moral duty to ensure that the Baloch enjoy the same fundamental rights enjoyed by citizens in the UK – notably the right to self-determination, freedom from arbitrary detention, and access to a fair asylum process.
