There can be no other words. We must strongly condemn the heinous, cowardly acts of recurrent killings of innocent civilian Punjabis in Balochistan. It is with great concern and outrage that we address the killings and the alarming silence surrounding these atrocities.

According to data compiled by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), from 2020 onwards, there have already been 8 incidents resulting in the loss of 18 innocent lives, 7 individuals sustaining injuries, and 28 Punjabis being abducted. Since August 26, 2006, a total of 243 'outsiders' have lost their lives in Balochistan due to terrorist activities, with a staggering 187 of them being Punjabis.

What is equally troubling is the silence surrounding these horrific acts of violence against unarmed Punjabis. A significant portion of mainstream political parties, Urdu and English media, nationalist parties, leftist groups, human rights organizations, writers, intellectuals, and even literary festivals voicing concerns from Kashmir to Palestine have apparently found it impossible to dedicate attention to the killing of unarmed Punjabis in Balochistan. What stops them from talking about the 'Punjabi'? Is it that the killing of majority Punjabis don’t fit into the discourses of social justice in Pakistan, even when they are violently eliminated?

Some argue that historical grievances, socio-economic deprivation, and systemic oppression in Balochistan may serve as an alibi for militants' actions against Punjabis. This perspective neglects the unarmed victims targeted purely for their ethnicity. In these brutal cases, killers confirmed Punjabi identity through national IDs or verbal identification before executing them.

Violence against unarmed civilians is unacceptable, regardless of the perpetrators' ethnic claims. The inherent right to life, liberty, and security, as enshrined in Article 3 of the UDHR and Article 6 of the ICCPR, must be upheld. Brutality against unarmed Punjabis asks for a clear and resounding condemnation. Public debates must tackle these killings head-on. Any delay in sparking these discussions may trigger a backlash in Punjab, shrinking the already limited space for civil society and democratic activism.

Criminals cannot hide behind nationalism or religion to justify heinous acts. Every life lost to terrorism is a tragedy, and we must strive for a future where all communities coexist in peace and harmony.

Call to Action:

• Government of Balochistan: Investigate the killings of innocent Punjabis thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to justice. Provide compensation to the victims' families.
• Government of Punjab: Address the killings with the Government of Balochistan and ensure compensation for victims' families through the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination.
• Human rights defenders: Organize fact-finding missions to report and speak out against these acts of terrorism. Advocate for the rights of all individuals, irrespective of ethnicity.
• Politicians and political activists: Condemn the targeted violence against Punjabi civilians in party forums, public, and media debates.
• Media: Allocate prime time slots to highlight these atrocities and bring the plight of Punjabi civilians in Balochistan to the forefront. Silence is not an option.
• Punjabi activists: Brief press clubs, journalists, political leaders, and civil society organizations on the issue of Punjabi killings without resorting to any narrow nationalism. Punjab is bigger than that! Ensure the safety of individuals from other provinces living in Punjab.

Let us unite in our efforts to stop killing of unarmed Punjabis, and uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their ethnicity or background in Pakistan.