Political Leadership Pushes for All-Encompassing Political Resolution to Address Balochistan's Issues
In a press conference at the Central Secretariat of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Farhatullah Babar, the President of the PPP's Human Rights Cell, expressed concern over ongoing issues in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and the nation's internment centres.
Babar called for a rights-based, inclusive political solution to the problems in Balochistan, emphasising the need for provincial autonomy, particularly in natural resource governance. He lamented the electoral manipulation that has undermined democratic credibility in Balochistan, marginalising nationalist parties that advocate for federal parliamentary democracy.
In KP, Babar voiced his concern over the internment centres, stating they violate due process, separation of powers, and fundamental rights of citizens. He was a petitioner in the internment centres' case, which has been under challenge in the Supreme Court since December 2019, but no hearing has been held for over five years.
Enforced disappearances are a crime against humanity, according to Babar, and he urged the government to take note of the recent fact-finding report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). He also expressed concern over the situation in Balochistan, where he believes electoral manipulation has led to instability.
The commission to investigate misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan, as ordered by Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, is currently not operational. This suspension occurred on July 24-25, 2025, when a division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stayed the single-bench order to form the commission pending further hearings on appeals filed by parties opposing the commission’s formation.
Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan had ordered the federal government to constitute a commission within 30 days to investigate misuse of blasphemy laws, with a task completion deadline of four months and possible extensions. However, this order was challenged by a group opposed to the commission’s formation, led by attorney Kamran Murtaza, who argued the petitioners were not fully heard and questioned the IHC’s jurisdiction and authority to form such a commission, suggesting it was a governmental prerogative.
As of early August 2025, no commission has yet been established due to this legal suspension. The PPP HR cell appreciates the verdict of IHC Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan last month, which ordered the government to constitute a commission to investigate misuse of the blasphemy law within 30 days. However, the verdict of the single bench was subsequently suspended by a division bench of the same court for one month.
Meanwhile, a group of Baloch women and children have been camping near a supermarket market in Islamabad for three weeks, protesting against enforced disappearances of their family members. The PPP HR cell urges the government to take swift action in addressing these human rights issues and ensuring justice for the affected families.
[1] The News International, "IHC suspends order for setting up commission to probe misuse of blasphemy laws," July 25, 2025. [2] Dawn, "IHC suspends single bench order for setting up commission to probe misuse of blasphemy laws," July 25, 2025. [3] Human Rights Watch, "Pakistan: Government Must Act on Blasphemy Commission," July 26, 2025. [4] The Express Tribune, "IHC orders government to constitute commission to probe misuse of blasphemy laws within 30 days," July 14, 2025.
- Farhatullah Babar, the President of the PPP's Human Rights Cell, has voiced concern over the ongoing suspension of the commission ordered to investigate misuse of the blasphemy law in Pakistan, as reported by The News International on July 25, 2025.
- In addition to the concerns over Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and internment centres, Babar also emphasized the need for action against enforced disappearances, a crime against humanity, as stated in a report by Dawn on July 25, 2025.
- The PPP HR cell urges the government to take swift action in addressing human rights issues, such as the current protests by Baloch women and children over enforced disappearances, as reported in Human Rights Watch on July 26, 2025.
- The suspension of the commission to investigate blasphemy laws has been a topic of debate in policy-and-legislation and politics, with attorney Kamran Murtaza, leading a group opposed to the commission’s formation, as reported in Dawn on July 25, 2025.
- In the general-news sphere, the lack of progress on the blasphemy commission has been covered by various media outlets, including The Express Tribune, which reported on the IHC's order for the government to constitute a commission to probe misuse of blasphemy laws on July 14, 2025.
