Balochistan: Families continue their protest amid Pakistani media silence

QUETTA: The families of enforced-disappeared Baloch have been protesting for the past 16 days, in front of the governor’s house in Quetta Balochistan to demand justice for their loved ones and an impartial investigation of the killing of nine forcibly abducted Baloch in a fake encounter in Ziarat by Pakistani forces Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

According to details, the relatives of Baloch Missing Persons have said that their fundamental demand is to produce their abducted loved ones in a court and decide their fate according to the law if they have committed any crime.

“Our loved ones should not be kept in unlawful detention for years by the Pakistani army and intelligence agencies and face torture and inhuman treatment.”

On 21 July 2022, the families of enforced disappeared Baloch started a peaceful sit-in protest in front of the governor’s house that continues till day.

The Balochistan government has issued a notification of the Ziarat incident to form a judicial commission about the Ziarat incident.

The protesting families, however, say they have no faith in the false promises of the toothless provincial government.  They said they will only end their protest if their loved ones are brought to the surface.

So far sources say two youths identified as KifayatUllah a teacher from Mongchar area of district Mastung and Ikhlaq Ahmed from Awaran have been produced in court and labeled with trumped-up charges.

Meanwhile, The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (IVBMP) has appealed to the Pakistani authority to hear and address legitimate and legal demands of the families of enforced disappeared persons to produce their loved ones in court and stop abductions of Baloch civilians in Balochistan.

 The IVBMP has also demanded from the Pakistani authorities to initiate an impartial investigation of nine forcibly disappeared Baloch who was massacred in a staged encounter in Ziarat.