Family of Abducted Baloch Activist Demands Justice at Press Conference in Awaran
Baloch activist in custody of UAE intelligence at risk of being deported to Pakistan
BW News Web Desk: A Baloch activist arrested and disappeared by UAE’s intelligence have been missing for a month now. The fear among Baloch activists in exile is mounting that he might be deported to Pakistan against his will.
According to details, on 26th December 2018, Mr Rashid Hussain along with sponsor Abdul Hafeez and other two men was on his way to Sharjah when two intelligence officials intercepted their car and asked all the passengers to show their ID card. After confirming the identity they took Mr Rashid Hussain with them.
Three days later, the security official brought Rashid Hussain to his family house and searched the property. During the search of the house, the UAE officials allegedly harassed and threaten the inhabitants. After a while, they went back and Rashid has not been seen since 29 December 2018.
Rashid Hussain fled to UAE after his relatives were killed by Pakistani forces. The deceased include his cousin Abdul Majeed who was abducted on 18 October 2010 and on 24 October his bullet-ridden dead body was found. Two years later Hussain’s uncle and late Majeed’s father Muhammad Ramzan was shot dead on 2nd February 2012.
Hussain has been living and working in UAE since 2017. His sudden arrest and disappearance have angered Baloch diaspora communities that instead of protecting a Baloch victim of Pakistan’s brutalities, the UAE intelligence agencies have arrested and put him incommunicado.
Baloch social media activists, political workers and journalists have been urging for the safe and immediate release of Rashid Hussain and for protection of his family.
Instead, it has been alleged that UAE authorities, since the arrest of Hussain, have been harassing and intimidating his family members.
The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Right Commission has initiated an online petition and written to the UNHCR UAE office to take concrete measures for the safety and release of Rashid Hussain.
There has been no official response from the UAE government and intelligence authorities about Hussain’s arrest so far.
