Pakistan Plans to Establish Guantanamo-Like Prison in Balochistan

The Pakistan Army has maintained a significant presence in Balochistan for several decades, engaging in various activities, including enforced disappearances, to control the region’s population. Despite these efforts, recent non-violent protests led by figures such as Dr. Mahrang Baloch have highlighted ongoing tensions between the people of Balochistan and the military. In response, the military appears to be considering new tactics, including the establishment of additional internment centers similar to those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

Reports suggest that these proposed centers in Balochistan would operate similarly to the Guantanamo Bay prison complex or the ‘black sites’ previously used in Afghanistan. This move has raised concerns about the potential for increased human rights violations and the formalization of enforced disappearances.

There have been ongoing allegations about the existence of such internment centers within military cantonments in Balochistan, though these have never been officially acknowledged by government authorities. Historically, the Pakistan military has not required a legal basis for its actions in Balochistan. In KPK, however, internment centers were established under the “Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulations 2011,” which granted security forces extensive powers to arrest and detain individuals indefinitely.

The Peshawar High Court ruled these centers unconstitutional in 2019, citing violations of fundamental human rights and due process. Despite this, reports indicate that such facilities continue to operate in KPK. In Balochistan, the alleged internment centers have reportedly been in use without any legal or constitutional backing. Released individuals have described these centers as sites of torture and illegal detention.

According to the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), more than 45,000 Baloch men, women, and children have disappeared and are believed to be held in these centers. The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has also raised concerns about the significant number of enforced disappearances in the region. Pakistani authorities typically do not comment on or outright deny these allegations.

If formalized through constitutional means, these internment centers could provide a legal framework for actions that have been criticized as human rights violations. The comparison to the Guantanamo Bay facility, known for its notoriety and human rights abuses, underscores the potential gravity of the situation. Human rights activists fear that legalizing such centers could further institutionalize abuses by the Pakistan Army.

The conditions of existing jails in Balochistan compound these concerns. Reports highlight severe health issues among prisoners due to a lack of medical facilities and personnel. For example, there are no doctors for around 3,000 inmates in 10 out of 12 jails in the province, including the largest jail, Central Jail at Mach. The Balochistan Government has acknowledged vacancies for several medical positions within these facilities.

Budget cuts have further exacerbated the situation, with funds for purchasing medicines for inmates being halved in recent years. This has led to increased health complications among prisoners, with paramedics often having to perform the duties of doctors. Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court has recently called for immediate action to address these issues.

The proposal to formalize the internment policy in Balochistan, similar to that in KPK, adds a concerning dimension to the already critical situation of enforced disappearances in the province. Under the guise of national security and counter-terrorism, the military’s actions have had significant impacts on the lives of Balochistan’s people.

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