In a week marked by rising dissent and sharp international scrutiny, Pakistan’s Sindh and Balochistan provinces have become focal points for protests and allegations of state repression, with events drawing attention both at home and abroad. On November 16, 2025, thousands of women, youth, peasants, workers, and civil society members took to the streets of Sindh for the 'Save Sindh’s Existence and Resources March,' defying a sweeping state crackdown that included the imposition of Section 144 and legal cases against more than 500 organizers and participants, according to reporting by La Via Campesina.
The demonstration, led by Sindhyani Tehreek and Awami Tehreek, began at City Gate and culminated at the Hyderabad Press Club, drawing support from writers, bar associations, and prominent civil society leaders. Protestors voiced strong opposition to the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the rapid expansion of corporate farming on Sindh’s lands, which they say threatens the province’s autonomy and the livelihoods of its people.
Speakers at the march did not mince words. The 27th Constitutional Amendment was described as a direct threat to democracy, with claims that it grants sweeping immunity to top state officials—including military leadership—and undermines the principle that all citizens are equal before the law. Advocate Vasand Thari, Central President of Awami Tehreek, issued a scathing critique: “The 27th Amendment grants lifetime immunity to the President and Field Marshal, placing them above the law, the Constitution, and 250 million people. This is not democracy — it is monarchy enforced through the Constitution.” Thari further asserted that the amendments erode judicial independence, suspend fundamental rights, and open the door for intensified resource extraction without public oversight. He also condemned a recent attack on a lawyers’ convention in Sukkur, framing it as part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent.
The SIFC, a central target of the marchers’ ire, was branded an “unconstitutional entity” that undermines the 18th Amendment and centralizes authority over land and resources. Organizers accused the Council of enabling the transfer of millions of acres of agricultural land to corporations and military-backed investors. Umra Samoon, Central President of Sindhyani Tehreek, stated: “The SIFC was formed to sell Pakistan’s and Sindh’s lands and resources. Corporate farming is a systematic conspiracy to dispossess oppressed nations. People from all walks of life must join the peaceful struggle to defend Sindh.” Samoon described the current political climate as “fascist rule,” alleging an erosion of democratic rights and provincial autonomy.
Another critical theme was the defense of the Indus River, described as the “civilizational lifeline” of Sindh. Protestors rejected federal dam and canal projects—including the Kalabagh Dam, Bhasha Dam, and six strategic canal schemes—warning that such initiatives threaten Sindh’s ecological stability and water security. They argued these projects aim to seize Sindh’s water resources and further weaken the province’s economic foundations.
Beyond resource and constitutional issues, marchers highlighted entrenched patriarchal practices and violence against women. Sindhyani Tehreek leaders drew attention to ongoing violence, including karo-kari, forced marriages, and early-age marriages, which they said continue under the patronage of tribal chieftains and complicit officials. Umra Samoon reiterated: “Rural women are being slaughtered while the state strengthens feudal power. These customs must be abolished, and women must be guaranteed full legal and social equality.” Protestors called for comprehensive legal reforms and strict action against perpetrators.
The march also demanded the abolition of laws they described as repressive, including the PECA Act—labelled a “gag law” restricting freedom of expression—the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act, which allows six-month detention without an FIR, and the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill 2025, criticized for undermining provincial autonomy. Speakers argued these laws entrench centralized control and limit civil liberties across Sindh and the wider federation.
The gathering adopted a set of broad political and economic demands: restoration of democracy on the basis of the Pakistan Resolution of 1940, repeal of the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, dissolution of the SIFC, cancellation of corporate farming projects, and protections for women against feudal practices. They also called for the rejection of any plan to divide Sindh into new administrative units, a halt to all dam and canal construction on the Indus River, the abolition of all laws restricting civil liberties, withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals Bill 2025, and guarantees of legal, economic, and constitutional protections for women.
While Sindh’s streets echoed with calls for democracy and justice, Balochistan’s plight was thrust onto the international stage. On November 20, 2025, Baloch leader Mehran Marri delivered a scathing indictment of Pakistan’s human rights record in Balochistan during an interview with ANI. Marri alleged widespread enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions, describing the situation as “genocide at full escalation.” He claimed the Pakistani military establishment has intensified crackdowns within Balochistan and expanded what he called “transnational aggression” into India and Afghanistan, targeting Baloch refugees beyond Pakistan’s borders.
Marri argued that Pakistan routinely masks military operations under the pretext of counterinsurgency, while in reality suppressing legitimate political aspirations. He said the Baloch struggle is centered on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and fundamental human dignity, yet is repeatedly labelled by Pakistani authorities as terrorism or foreign-backed unrest. “They manipulate the narrative to simplify our struggle,” Marri said, urging the international community not to take Pakistani claims at face value.
He also criticized Pakistan’s recent shipment of rare earth minerals to the United States, maintaining that Balochistan’s resources are being exploited without benefiting the local population. Comparing the minerals to “stolen goods,” he called for global regulations similar to those imposed on conflict diamonds. Despite Balochistan’s vast natural wealth and critical ports, it remains among Pakistan’s poorest regions, a disparity Marri attributes to “illegal occupation.” The worsening situation, he said, has forced numerous activists, students, and journalists to flee the country in search of asylum. Marri described Balochistan as an “open-air prison,” where civilians live under constant surveillance, curfews, and military pressure. “There is no politics. We live in a dungeon,” he stated. Going further, he questioned Pakistan’s legitimacy as a nation-state and urged the international community to reassess its recognition of Pakistan, citing its destabilizing role in the region.
As Sindh’s protestors and Balochistan’s advocates amplify their calls for justice and autonomy, the Pakistani state faces mounting challenges—both from its own citizens and from critical voices abroad. The coming weeks will reveal whether these calls for reform gain further momentum or meet with renewed resistance from the country’s powerful institutions.
