ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Amnesty International Tuesday called on Pakistan's government to investigate the reported torture and killings of more than 40 Balochistan political activists.
The human rights organization said activists, politicians and student leaders were among people targeted in "enforced disappearances," abductions, arrests and cases of torture and other ill-treatment in the restive Balochistan province.
"The Pakistani government must act immediately to provide justice for the growing list of atrocities in Balochistan," Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific director, said in a release. "Baloch political leaders and activists are clearly being targeted and the government must do much more to end this alarming trend."
The victims' relatives and activists have accused Pakistani security forces and intelligence agencies of carrying out alleged human rights violations. Also claiming responsibility for some of the killings is the previously unknown organization Sipah-e Shuhada-e Balochistan, Amnesty International said.
The organization warned that the rise in disappearances and other acts of violence has aggravated political tensions in Balochistan, leading to reprisal actions by Baloch armed groups.
Amnesty International urged everyone involved in the conflict to respect human rights and cease all torture, enforced disappearances, abductions, targeted killings and indiscriminate attacks.
