English city Westminster has been emblazoned with slogans raising human rights issue in Pakistan ahead of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.
On Monday night, the World Baloch Organisation (WBO) organised a projection over the UK Houses of Parliament that read “Commonwealth Nations must question Pakistan over enforced disappearances in Balochistan” and “Pakistan must answer for crimes against humanity”
The WBO’s latest initiative comes as the city hosts the biennial summit – the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The summit brings together heads of governments, ministers and global business leaders from 53 nations to discuss and promote prosperity, democracy and peace. The projection aims to catch the attention of Commonwealth leaders and urge them to contribute in ending the widespread abuse of human rights in Balochistan.
A representative of the organisation, Bhawal Mengal said, “The human rights situation in Balochistan is worsening. Enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial killings of Baloch men, women and children are a recurrent experience. Systematic oppression committed on behalf of the Pakistani state has been prevalent for decades.”
The WBO believes that the projection will serve as a key message and reminder to World leaders of their responsibility to speak out against Pakistan’s crimes against humanity in Balochistan. This is of vital importance in improving the economic and socio-political situation and ending human rights violations within Balochistan. The projection also aims to raise awareness amongst Londoners on the dire situation that desperately calls for international attention and support.
The new initiative comes after successful campaigns in London, New York and Manchester, and Geneva where the campaigns attracted mediatic attention and triggered the interest of public opinion. The campaigns were successful in spite of having faced strong opposition from the Pakistani government – in London, Pakistan’s request to ban WBO’s adverts was ruled out by the Council of the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), proving the peaceful character of the WBO’s initiatives.
