In a deeply disturbing incident that has ignited widespread condemnation, Pakistani authorities filed a terrorism case against a seven-year-old boy from Turbat, Balochistan, a province already tense with insurgency and separatist sentiment and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the move as a serious violation of human rights and demanded immediate withdrawal of the First Information Report (FIR). This case, based on the boy’s alleged act of uploading a YouTube video featuring a speech by rights activist Gulzar Dost, has triggered serious concern about Pakistan’s treatment of children under anti-terrorism laws.
HRCP Labels the FIR a ‘Grave Violation’
The HRCP swiftly responded, calling the FIR a blatant misuse of anti-terror laws. According to the statement, the action is “not only contrary to the spirit of the law but also a direct breach of Pakistan’s national and international legal obligations to protect children.”
It said the video did not justify terrorism charges. Instead, the commission noted, this marked a dangerous overreach of state power. The act of branding a child a terrorist for sharing content online reflects “an unbalanced use of power,” HRCP stated.
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Urgent Demands for Legal Redress and Protection
The HRCP has demanded the immediate cancellation of the FIR and urged authorities to protect the child and his family from any further harassment. It also called for targeted training for law enforcement agencies regarding child protection and legal rights.
The commission made a direct appeal to the Government of Balochistan, Ministry of Human Rights, Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Pakistan Commission for Human Rights to intervene without delay.
Not an Isolated Case, Says HRCP
Worryingly, this is not the first instance of children being targeted under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The HRCP has also raised concern over ongoing prosecutions of minors in Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC). Despite clear proof of their young age, these children continue to face trials in courts designed to handle serious terrorism cases.
The HRCP has called this practice “deeply troubling and incomprehensible.” It says such actions clearly violate the Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018, and breach the constitutional protections guaranteed to minors.
Calls for Juvenile Justice Reform
The HRCP has strongly urged the Pakistani state to transfer all such cases to Juvenile Courts, which are better equipped to handle minors in a legal and humane manner, and it also asked the judiciary to halt all trials of minors under terrorism laws, and to ensure that children’s rights are respected across the justice system.
This case has reignited debate around Pakistan’s implementation of anti-terror laws and exposed gaps in the protection of child rights, especially in conflict-prone regions like Balochistan.
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