Zaheer Ahmed’s Family Threatens to Resume Protests If He Is Not Released By Next Week

QUETTA: The family of forcibly disappeared Zaheer Ahmed held a briefing with journalists in Quetta, detailing their ongoing struggle and calling for the return of their missing loved one.

The family explained that daily, relatives of the forcibly disappeared visit the press club to express their pain and suffering, hoping for the return of their loved ones who have been missing for years. “We are also one of these affected families,” they stated.

According to the briefing, Zaheer Ahmed, son of Dr. Haji Abdullah, is a government employee who has served as a clerk at the Pakistan Post Office for the past 15 years. 

On Thursday, June 27, he left his office at the GPO Quetta, located on Zarghoon Road, around 2 PM to return to his home in Killi Bangalzai, Saryab Road. He was abducted in broad daylight before reaching home.

The relatives said that Zaheer Ahmed has no political background. However, he and other family members have been repeatedly harassed based on family ties, with several midnight raids conducted at their homes.

The family added that Zaheer Ahmed was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces, including CTD and intelligence agency personnel, from Quetta.

In response, the family organized fourteen days of protests, including rallies in Quetta. During this period, police used force against peaceful protesters, detaining around twenty individuals, including five women.

On July 14, during negotiations in the Red Zone, an agreement was reached for the release of detainees, the filing of an FIR against CTD, and the recovery of Zaheer Ahmed within fifteen days.

The family said that following assurances from the government committee, they suspended their protests for fifteen days. However, after a month, there has been no significant progress from the authorities.

The family further emphasized that if Zaheer Ahmed is not recovered within the next week, they will resume more intense protests, including rallies and sit-ins.

They also appealed to political and social organizations in Balochistan, as well as international human rights organizations, to assist in securing Zaheer Ahmed’s recovery.