Family of Abducted Baloch Doctor Threatens Sit-In Protest

QUETTA: In a conference held today, the family of Dr. Abdul Hai Baloch, an operating theatre assistant at DHQ Hospital Awaran, made a plea for his immediate release following his enforced disappearance on June 1, 2024.

Dr. Baloch was reportedly abducted by personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC) and state intelligence agencies while he was at his clinic in Awaran Novandara.

Dr. Baloch’s sister, who addressed the press, expressed the family’s deep anguish and frustration. She highlighted the ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan, where enforced disappearances have become a regular occurrence.

“Balochistan has been gripped by unconstitutional actions, with daily raids on educational institutions, offices, clinics, and homes. Young men are taken away by force and held incommunicado for months or even years,” she said.

The press conference also shed light on the broader context of violence and intimidation faced by residents in underdeveloped areas like Awaran.

According to Dr. Baloch’s sister, FC personnel frequently raid homes, harass women, children, and the elderly, and forcibly abduct their loved ones. “This has become a daily ordeal for us, and yet the government remains silent and inactive,” she added.

In a stern warning to the authorities, Dr. Baloch’s sister declared that the family would only wait ten more days for the safe return of her brother. Failing that, they plan to lock down DHQ Hospital Awaran and initiate a sit-in protest in front of the facility. She vowed that the protest would continue indefinitely until Dr. Baloch is released.

“Our patience has run out. We cannot endure this painful and agonizing life any longer. If the government continues to ignore our plight, we will have no choice but to take drastic action. And if we suffer any harm during our protest, the state will bear full responsibility,” she explained.

The enforced disappearance of Dr. Abdul Hai Baloch has raised serious concerns among residents and human rights organizations, who have repeatedly called on the government to address the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. However, with little response from the authorities, the situation remains dire, and the threat of a sit-in protest underscores the growing desperation among affected families.

The press conference ended with an appeal to the government to take immediate and concrete steps to recover Dr. Abdul Hai Baloch and to put an end to the cycle of enforced disappearances in the region.