THE TREATY BODY PATHWAY AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS IN BALOCHISTAN: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PAKISTAN’S ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ICCPR AND CAT

Abstract

The involvement of Pakistan in the system of the United Nations human rights treaty body is often introduced as the manifestation of the international legal standards. By periodically

reporting, having constructive dialogue and interaction with expert committees, the state presents an impression of adherence to the international human rights norms. But this official interaction is a stark difference to the actual reality of the conflict-torn areas especially Balochistan. In this paper, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Committee

Against Torture (CAT) will critically look at the engagement between Pakistan and the Human Rights Committee and the allegations of continued enforced disappearance, torture, and

suppression of civic space in Balochistan. The study uses reports by the treaty bodies, concluding observations, shadow reports and civil society documentation to determine that there has existed a comprehensive and structural compliance gap between international legal standards and

domestic standards. It proposes that although the treaty body route exerts normative pressure and international visibility, it has not been able to result in structural reform because the

securitization of Balochistan, institutional impunity and lack of efficient civilian control. The paper concludes that the international follow up and meaningful domestic accountability

mechanisms will also ensure that Pakistan does not continue to operate in the international accountability treaty bodies as mere performers.