Balochistan: Families protest for the release of their abducted loved ones

QUETTA: On the 11th anniversary of the forcible abduction of Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch, a protest rally was organised by the families of the abductees on Sunday and protest demonstration was also recorded in front of the Quetta Press Club.

The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons had announced on the completion of Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch 11 years of his abduction, very emotional scenes were witnessed during the protest as sisters, daughters and mothers of abducted Baloch spoke of their struggle, suffering and psychological pains.

People from all schools of thought took part in the protest including a large number of women and children. Protesters held banners and placards with pictures of the abducted people with various slogans.

Addressing the protesters, the families of the abducted people said that in accordance with international human rights law, disappearances by state [Pakistan], are a crime even in its own constitution. “These crimes and inhumane act against the Baloch nation have been taking place from past several years with impunity,” the speakers said.

The participants added that when it comes to Balochistan, neither international law nor the state enforce its own law, but the people of Balochistan have been forced to live their lives under a shadow of anguish, pain, suffering and oppression.

In an emotional speech, Mahlab Baloch, daughter of the abducted Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch, said, “this unending oppression in Balochistan today continues unabated due to our indifference, detachment and alienation because if we [Baloch nation] has raised voice against the abduction of Ali Asghar Bangulzai, who was abducted 19 years ago.

“Later Zakir Jan and Dr Deen Mohammad might not have been abducted and tortured for nine years, but our own alienation has pushed many of our loved ones into the dark cells of violence.

Since then, it has become a customary norm for the state to abduct anyone at any time and make them disappear, to keep them missing for years, to torture them and not to hold them accountable.”

Mahlab Baloch further said that all the prisoners including Dr Deen Mohammad should not be called ‘missing persons’ as they are not missing. “We know of their whereabouts in Kulli Camp [Pakistan military concentration camps in Quetta] and other such torture chambers, where they are being subjected to severe physical and mental abuse.”

 Hasiba Qambrani said that unless we [Baloch] raise our voice, we will not be given justice.

Addressing her brother’s abductors she said, “You kidnapped my elder brother first, tortured him. I remained silent that there may be justice in the world and that justice may be available to the unfortunate Baloch but as a result, I received my abducted brother’s dead body. Today if continuously protest, it is because of you.

“You have put me in a position where if I am not strong enough at the moment to fight you and free my brothers from your unnatural strong claws but I have one voice to tell the whole world and my people will join me in giving more energy to this voice and this voice will surely shake your houses.”

 Hasiba Qambrani added that you are a tyrant and oppressor.

“You only know how to oppress and by using it you are making our world [our future] dark. You have taken away our happiness. You have robbed us of our livelihood. You have taken away the shadow of our heads from us and then expect us to remain silent?  We will shout and tell the world the stories of your atrocities.”

He further said that if anyone loses even a small thing, he/she will become restless and starts looking for it. You snatched our loved ones from us and despite that, we’re not even allowed crying for them.”

Shabir Baloch’s sister Seema Baloch said that if our loved ones have been martyred then we should be informed and if they are still alive we should know about it.

“There is still some reassurance about the deceased that he will never return, but the families of the missing go through an endless ordeal forever as long as their loved ones remain disappeared,” she added.

Seema Baloch further said, “when joined protests before, family members were threatened that if I did not remain silent, my brother would not be released. I kept silence for a while but to no avail.”  

She said that they resorted to all peaceful means but no one listened to them and added they are being threatened to stay quiet which is no longer possible.

Seema Baloch added, “You have courts. If they [our loved ones] have committed a crime, try them and punish them, but God sake do not disappear them like this.”

 All the participants in the demonstration, including children, were shocked to see the condition of their families and very painful and upsetting scenes were witnessed during the demonstration.