BYC condemns Pakistan for its anti-terrorism laws against peaceful activists

The committee described the situation as an authoritarian mindset.

In an X post, BYC said: "Leveraging the State’s Anti-Terrorism laws on part of the government against peaceful political workers is both discriminatory and unacceptable. "

"Placing Shahgi Sibghatullah, a central member of BYC in the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act-1997, reflects the authoritarian and colonial mindset of the State towards the Baloch and Balochistan. In fact, the struggle of Shahgi through the platform of BYC is primarily focused to resist such policy and practices of the State that are resulting in genocide of the Baloch. Every citizen has the right to freedom of expression, movement and peaceful assembly under the country’s constitution and International Human Rights Law. Equating peaceful political struggle with terrorism is contrary to global democratic norms and putting human lives on threat," the X post further said.

"Moreover, such tactics aimed at curtailing fundamental rights of political workers in Balochistan is a recurring State strategy to curb peaceful voices empowered by Baloch masses and highlighting their genuine grievances," it said.

The group said the discriminatory use of law by the State against political workers without concrete evidence is not only a violation of International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) but also equates to apartheid.

BYC urged the global community and Human Rights Organizations to raise concerns against such practices.