At the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Munir Mengal, President of the Baloch Voice Association (BVA), criticised Pakistan over the reported life sentence given to Baloch rights activist Dr Mahrang Baloch, calling it an effort to silence the political aspirations of the Baloch people.

Mengal said Dr Mahrang Baloch reflects the collective voice of the Baloch community and has consistently highlighted Baloch rights on international platforms. He alleged that Pakistan’s judiciary is not independent and claimed the verdict aligns more with state interests than with fair judicial procedure.

He further argued that imprisoning her would not weaken the Baloch movement but instead could intensify resistance among young Baloch activists and draw increased global attention to the situation in Balochistan. He urged the UN and international human rights organisations to investigate what he described as ongoing and systematic rights violations in the region.

Mengal also alleged that thousands of Baloch people, including women and children, have faced enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and other abuses without accountability. He accused security forces of using excessive force to suppress dissent and said access for journalists and international observers to Balochistan remains highly restricted.

Calling on the United Nations, he demanded the deployment of special rapporteurs and fact-finding missions, and urged member states to pressure Pakistan to ensure accountability for alleged violations. He also proposed UN-facilitated dialogue between Islamabad and Baloch representatives, saying the issue is political and should be resolved through negotiations rather than military action. He concluded by saying the situation in Balochistan has deteriorated further, claiming that intensified military operations since the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti have fueled stronger resistance across the region.