Dozens of Baloch activists gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), protesting what they allege is an intensifying crackdown by Pakistani authorities on political dissent and human rights in Balochistan.
The demonstration, held in the heart of Edinburgh, condemned Pakistan’s treatment of Baloch activists and drew attention to allegations of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and extrajudicial killings reportedly carried out by the country’s security forces.
Organized by the Baloch diaspora in Scotland, the protest is part of a growing international campaign to raise awareness of alleged abuses in Pakistan’s southwestern province.
“Where are our people?”: Diaspora Raises Alarm
Protesters held placards bearing slogans such as “Stop Enforced Disappearances” and “Justice for Balochistan”, chanting outside Holyrood as MSPs arrived for regular parliamentary business.
One speaker at the protest, identified as a spokesperson for the Scottish branch of the Baloch Human Rights Council, said:
“The people of Balochistan are being silenced through violence. Families are left without answers for loved ones who have disappeared. Today we are here to say: we will not be silent.”
Protesters called on Scottish and UK political leaders to raise the issue at international forums and increase diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to ensure transparency and accountability for alleged human rights abuses.
Focus on the BYC Crackdown
The protest specifically targeted Pakistan’s recent actions against the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a grassroots organization active in organizing demonstrations and public awareness campaigns across Balochistan and beyond.
The BYC has recently led a series of high-profile protests and vigils against state violence in the province — many of which were met with arrests and intimidation, according to human rights observers.
Several prominent BYC members are reportedly missing or have been detained without formal charges.
“Criminalizing peaceful protest is a red line,” said a participant in the Edinburgh protest. “The international community cannot continue to turn a blind eye.”
Growing Baloch Voice in the Diaspora
Scotland has become one of several hubs for Baloch activism in Europe, with Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen home to small but active communities. The diaspora has increasingly used its voice to raise awareness of what they see as an underreported crisis in Pakistan.
Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented numerous instances of state violence, including the targeting of students, journalists, and political workers in Balochistan.
While Pakistan’s military and intelligence services deny these claims, citing counterterrorism operations in the province, activists say the label of “terrorist” is being used to justify systematic repression.
Call for UK Government Action
Protesters also submitted a letter to Scottish parliamentarians urging them to raise the matter with Westminster. The letter calls on the UK government to:
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Publicly condemn enforced disappearances in Balochistan
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Press the Pakistani government for independent investigations
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Support international observers to assess the human rights situation on the ground
The UK is home to a large South Asian diaspora and maintains close diplomatic and economic ties with Pakistan. Baloch activists have long argued that this relationship gives the UK a unique platform to speak out on rights issues.
Limited Coverage, Deepening Crisis
While global attention has focused on flashpoints like Gaza and Ukraine, campaigners say the crisis in Balochistan remains dangerously ignored.
In recent months, viral videos of mothers protesting for their missing sons, as well as high-profile hunger strikes by families of the disappeared, have briefly drawn international attention. But advocates say media coverage remains sparse.
“This is not just about Balochistan,” said a protester. “It’s about the principle that states cannot disappear their citizens without accountability.”
