Sister of Abducted Baloch Doctor Pleads for His Release

QUETTA: The sister of Dr. Abdul Hai, a Baloch doctor who has been missing since June 1, 2024, made a heartfelt appeal to journalists on Sunday, seeking their support in raising awareness about her brother’s enforced disappearance.

Addressing the press, she expressed her gratitude to the journalist community, hoping they would help amplify the voice of a “helpless sister” to those in power.

“My brother, Dr. Abdul Hai, was forcibly disappeared by security forces in Awaran Bedi,” she stated. “He was an operation theatre assistant at the district hospital in Awaran, a dedicated professional. On June 1, 2024, security forces abducted him without any explanation, and since then, he has been missing.”

She went on to describe a harrowing incident where her brother was brought back home once during his captivity, only for the security forces to search their home and find nothing but books.

“Despite finding nothing incriminating, the security forces threatened our family, promising to release Dr. Abdul Hai by July 25. However, more than two months have passed, and he is still missing.”

The sister emphasized that their family, known for their quiet and noble nature, is enduring immense suffering due to the forced disappearance of Dr. Abdul Hai.

“We don’t even know what crime he has committed to warrant such a fate. Through you, we appeal to the security forces to recover Dr. Abdul Hai,” she implored.

In a bid to increase pressure on authorities, she announced a planned social media campaign on X (formerly known as Twitter) for August 16, 2024, followed by a protest rally from the University of Balochistan to the Red Zone in Quetta on August 20, 2024.