Paank, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has called on the European Union to reassess Pakistan’s GSP+ status, which grants Islamabad special trade privileges, citing worsening human rights abuses in Balochistan.
In its latest report, Paank condemned Pakistan’s continued repression in the region and described the GSP+ benefits as undeserved, given the state’s “blatant disregard for human rights.”
“It is unacceptable for Pakistan to enjoy economic advantages while carrying out such cruel repression,” the report stated.
The organization also slammed the recently passed Anti-Terrorism (Balochistan Amendment) Bill 2025, which, it says, grants sweeping powers to security forces to detain individuals on suspicion for up to three months — a provision open to misuse and abuse.
Highlighting arbitrary arrests, Paank listed the ongoing detentions of Baloch leaders including Mahrang Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Beebow Baloch, Sibghat Ullah Baloch, and Beeberg Baloch, despite court appearances.
“Instead of being released, they were handed over to the police on a 10-day physical remand under newly fabricated terrorism charges. This move appears to be a clear tactic by the authorities to silence peaceful activists,” the report added.
The report further revealed alarming statistics:
- 84 cases of enforced disappearances
- 33 extrajudicial killings in June 2025 alone
Many victims were later discovered tortured or mutilated, according to Paank.
“These are not just numbers,” the report stressed, “they are fathers, sons, students, poets, and community leaders.”
Paank urged Western governments and international human rights organizations to not only document these violations in their annual country reports but to also raise the issue in diplomatic forums and reconsider bilateral benefits extended to Pakistan.
The GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus) is a key trade mechanism that allows developing countries preferential access to EU markets, contingent on adherence to core international human rights and labor standards — conditions that, Paank asserts, Pakistan is flagrantly violating.
