Geneva, Sep.14 (ANI): A group of Baloch diaspora will meet on September 20 to discuss the prevailing human rights crisis in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Some 20 Baloch leaders from Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom will gather in Geneva on the sidelines of 21st session of the Human Rights Council.
"We will discuss the prevailing human rights situation and Baloch genocide" said Munir Mengal, the President of Baloch Voice Foundation in an e-mail to ANI.
The meet coincides with the visit of United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in Pakistan.
Granted permission to meet Baloch victim families after years of request, the four-member U.N team consisting of French lawyer Olivier de Frouville, the Chair-Rapporteur, has been facing opposition from many Pakistani groups, including the Diffa-e-Pakistan Council, an umbrella coalition of more than 40 Pakistani quasi-political religious parties.
Pakistan is reluctant to allow U.N. human rights members to examine the prevailing situation in Balochistan as the human rights situation is said to have deteriorated with reports of continuous incidents of enforced disappearances of political leaders and activists emerging.
"Pakistan, as member state of United Nations Organisation (UNO), has a responsibility to facilitate visiting U.N. members to allow them to meet representatives of Baloch society, lawyers, politicians, human rights activists and family members of the disappeared persons," added Munir Mengal.
Munir, who is attending the 21st session of the Human Rights Council, also interacted with members of UNO bodies and NGO representatives in Geneva urging them to take urgent note of the genocide of Baloch people by Pakistan.
"The people, and particularly the victims, have hope and confidence on the UN body to play an effective role on the issue of enforced disappearances. Now, it is on the shoulders of the working body to take measures for the safe release of the people and bring the culprits to court of justice", added Munir.
The New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its 'World Report 2012' on Pakistan stated that the situation in Balochsitan is 'deteriorating'.
In an estimate, over 14,000 people, including political leaders, social activists and journalists, are missing, and hundreds of their bullet-riddled bodies have been recovered from parts of Balochistan. (ANI)
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