The Baloch Students Council Islamabad has issued a strong condemnation of the recent surge in violence, harassment, and enforced disappearances targeting Baloch students in Pakistan, particularly in educational institutions. This statement follows an alarming rise in incidents of repression, most notably the abduction of Baloch student Hamid Baloch, and the violent attacks on Baloch students at Punjab University, Lahore. The council has called for solidarity and action, urging participation in an online campaign to raise awareness of the injustices faced by Baloch students.
In their statement, the Baloch Students Council highlighted the violence faced by students at Punjab University, where Baloch students were attacked and harassed in what they termed as “institutionalized discrimination.” This violence, they argued, reflects deep-rooted marginalization that the Baloch people have endured for decades, exacerbated by oppressive state policies. The Council condemned the invocation of the draconian Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law, under which several Baloch students were unjustly charged, as a tactic to stifle dissent and silence Baloch voices.
The Baloch Students Council also underscored the systemic repression faced by the Baloch nation, citing decades of political disenfranchisement, economic neglect, and military operations in Balochistan. The targeting of Baloch students is part of a broader state strategy to suppress activism and legitimate political grievances, they noted. “The state’s response to our demands for equality and justice is met with violence, abductions, and enforced disappearances,” the statement read.
One particularly distressing incident, they emphasized, was the abduction of Hamid Baloch, a student at the University of Sargodha. Hamid, the son of Khan Muhammad, was forcibly taken by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) from Bahadur Shah Zafar Road in Sargodha District. His disappearance adds to the growing list of missing Baloch students, activists, and intellectuals, further fueling fears within the Baloch community. According to the council, such enforced disappearances are a tool of political repression used by the state to instill fear and prevent activism.
“Instead of ensuring safety, law enforcement agencies have become instruments of fear and intimidation, particularly targeting the Baloch nation,” the statement continued. “Educational institutions, which should be spaces of learning and dialogue, have been transformed into battlegrounds where Baloch students face violence, intimidation, and illegal persecution.”
The Baloch Students Council emphasized that this repression is indicative of the state’s failure to address the legitimate concerns of the Baloch people. The use of laws like the MPO to arrest and detain students without trial was cited as evidence of the state’s repressive approach towards political dissent, especially from marginalized ethnic groups.
The council also expressed disappointment in the role of educational institutions, accusing universities of complicity in the political suppression of Baloch voices. They noted that universities have failed to provide a safe and inclusive environment for Baloch students, and in some cases, have actively participated in discriminatory practices. This failure, they argued, perpetuates structural inequalities and deepens the sense of alienation and isolation felt by Baloch students.
In light of the ongoing violence and repression, the Baloch Students Council announced its support for a social media campaign launched by the Baloch Students Council Punjab. The campaign, hosted on X (formerly Twitter), aims to raise awareness about the violence faced by Baloch students at Punjab University and the enforced disappearance of Hamid Baloch. The council urged people to participate and speak out against the injustices faced by Baloch students, calling on the public to stand in solidarity with the Baloch community.
“The Baloch people have long resisted oppression,” the statement concluded. “Unity remains our strength, and we will continue to resist state-sponsored violence. We call on everyone to join us in our campaign against these injustices.”