Balochistan: Unabated Protests Against Enforced Disappearances Continue

Family Members of Missing Persons, Local Communities Demand Action on Forced Disappearances and End to Economic Struggles

QUETTA: Protests in Balochistan have intensified as families of the forcibly disappeared and local communities continue to demand justice and an end to ongoing economic hardships.

In three separate incidents across the province, demonstrators voiced their frustration with the government’s failure to address their concerns, including the prolonged disappearance of relatives and restrictions on cross-border trade.

In Awaran, a protest rally was organized by the relatives of Diljan Baloch, who has been missing since June 2024. The rally, which began in Awaran Bazaar, made its way to the DC Complex, where it turned into a sit-in. Hundreds of protesters, including women and children, participated in the demonstration, demanding the safe return of Diljan Baloch.

 The protesters strongly criticised the government’s inaction and the silence of law enforcement agencies in addressing the case. Family members of Diljan Baloch have been vocal in their demand for justice. They have reiterated calls for his immediate release and an end to the ongoing pattern of enforced disappearances across Balochistan.

A similar protest had been held three weeks ago, during which the district administration, the DPO of Awaran, and local political and social leaders assured the protesters that Diljan Baloch would be recovered within 14 days.

However, with no progress in the case and the deadline long expired, Diljan Baloch’s family members resumed their protest. The demonstrators are now demanding that the government immediately halt enforced disappearances and ensure the safe recovery of all missing persons.

“We will not stop protesting until our demands are met,” the protesters reiterated. “If our loved ones are in custody, they should be presented in court. Otherwise, they should be released immediately.”

The ongoing protest in Awaran is part of a broader movement calling for accountability and action to end the practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

In another case, Mah Para Baloch, the sister of Nasibullah Badini, marked the tenth anniversary of her brother’s enforced disappearance. Nasibullah Badini was forcibly taken by security forces in 2014 near the Rakhshani Tent Service on the Chaghi stop.

Mah Para Baloch expressed her frustration with the lack of progress in the case, saying that the judiciary had failed to provide justice despite all legal steps being taken.

On the tenth anniversary of his disappearance, Mah Para Baloch announced that a protest would be held on November 24, 2024, in front of the Press Club in Quetta at 3 PM. A social media campaign will follow on November 25 from 8 PM to midnight to raise awareness about Nasibullah Badini’s case and the broader issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, in the coastal city of Gwadar, protests also erupted in Pasni tehsil as local women staged a demonstration against the confiscation of oil tankers and the torture against drivers.

 The protesters blocked the Makran Coastal Highway in response to the ongoing violence and harassment by security forces. During the protest, Pakistan Coast Guard personnel opened fire on the female demonstrators, further escalating the situation.

The president of the Pickup Union reported that security forces also detained pickup drivers during the protest and subjected them to severe torture.

The protesters condemned the government’s actions, claiming that the authorities’ restrictions on cross-border trade had severely impacted their livelihoods, causing widespread economic hardship.

They have called for an immediate end to these restrictions and demanded the lifting of all obstacles to trade, which they argue is essential for their economic survival.