Balochistan: Families threaten to resume protest

QUETTA – Families of six young men who were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces on July 19th have demanded their immediate release and accountability from the authorities.

The incident occurred in the village of Kocho Grisha, where residents say that at around 4 a.m., state security personnel from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) arrived in six vehicles, both in uniform and plain clothes, and opened indiscriminate fire, terrorising the residents.

According to the families, the security forces detained six youths without cause and forcibly disappeared them.

The missing individuals include Shah Jan, son of Salim Jan; Gohar Deen, son of Khair Jan; Muhammad Jan, son of Lal Bakhsh; Mayar Jan, son of Lal Bakhsh Muhammad; Arif, son of Abdul Rehman; and Munir Ahmed, son of Sabro.

Munir Baloch was reportedly tortured and then discarded on the roadside.

Following the incident, the families approached local police to file a First Information Report (FIR) but were met with outright refusal. The relatives then staged a protest and sit-in on Grisha’s Main CPEC Road and later at Tobro Nal, demanding the safe return of their loved ones.

The families reported that the government only agreed to address their demands after the protest escalated. Their demands included the recovery of the missing individuals, their presentation before a court of law if accused of any crimes, and clear information about which security forces are holding them, along with guarantees for their safety.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Khuzdar, representing the government, provided a written commitment to the families, assuring them that if these demands were not met within five days, he and the negotiation team would be held responsible.

While two of the missing, Gohar Deen and Mayar Jan, were eventually presented in court, the whereabouts of the other three remain unknown.

Now, 19 days after the initial incident, the families have warned that they will resume their protest in 48 hours, expressing frustration over the government’s failure to fulfil its promises.

The relatives of the missing have urged the Baloch nation, particularly those with loved ones who have also been forcibly disappeared, to unite in protest against ongoing state injustices.

They believe that only through collective action can they hope to secure justice and the safe return of their loved ones.