Balochistan: Protests Intensify Amid Enforced Disappearances, Increased Military Movements

QUETTA: The protest against the non-recovery of five missing persons from Grisha continued for the third day, causing businesses in the city to close due to the strike.

On July 19, Pakistani forces stormed houses in the Khuzdar area of Balochistan and beat up the inhabitants, resulting in injuries to several men, women, and children. Relatives and residents of the area have been protesting against the incident for the last three days, demanding the recovery of the missing persons.

At a press conference, the relatives of the missing persons recounted that around 4 a.m. on Friday, individuals dressed in uniforms and plain clothes forcibly entered the house of Abdul Wahid son of Salim Jan, Khair Jan son of Muhammad Jan, and Abdul Rehman son of Shamir.

The protesters complained that Pakistani forces entered homes at gunpoint, damaged solar panels, and looted valuables.

Several people, including Shah Jan son of Saleem, Gohar Deen, son of Khair Jan, Arif, son of Abdul Rehman, Muhammad Jan son of Lal Bakhsh, Miyar son of Lal Bakhsh, and Munir Ahmad son of Sabro were abducted.

Family members have been protesting on roads for the last three days. In the past three days, they blocked CPEC Road in Girisha and CPEC Tobaro. The administration has so far failed to register an FIR against the abductions and attacks on houses.

In Kech, Balochistan, the relatives of at least ten forcibly disappeared persons have set up a protest vigil outside the CD office in Turbat for over a week. The vigil has now turned into a token hunger strike due to the local administration’s non-cooperation and broken promises.

Family members of the forcibly disappeared from different areas of district Kech, Balochistan, are participating in the vigil, now a token hunger strike, for the recovery of their loved ones outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Finance Department, and District Chairman Kech’s office, all of which have remained closed for the past week.

The disappeared men include Muslim Arif, Jan Mohammad, Fateh Miyar, Nisar Karim, Shakir Karim, Doctor Rafiq, Jahanzeb Faisal, Sameer Niamatullah, Miran Hussain, Mohammad Hiyat and Wali Mohammad.

The relatives on hunger strike have warned that if their loved ones are not released, they will be forced to explore other means and venues to protest and make their voices heard.

The condition of Bibi Shratun, the aged mother of missing Jan Muhammad from Balida, deteriorated, and she fainted, receiving medical assistance from volunteers at the protest camp. The sister of Nisar Kareem also became unconscious and was later shifted to the hospital.

The camp includes a large number of women and children from ten families from different areas of the Kech district.

Previously, the relatives temporarily suspended their protest twice after assurances from local authorities that their loved ones would be released. However, government representatives failed to keep their promise, forcing the relatives to resume their protest and start a token hunger strike.

Recently, Pakistan’s security forces have intensified enforced disappearances and military movements in different areas.

Locals reported that Pakistani forces are dispatching the latest weaponry, tanks, and long-range artillery to various parts of Balochistan. The increased troop movement began after the announcement of the so-called ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.’