Balochistan: Protests Intensify Over Enforced Disappearances as Families Demand Justice

QUETTA: In Balochistan, protests are intensifying as families of forcibly disappeared individuals demand justice and accountability from the Pakistani authorities.

On the 10th anniversary of Naseebullah Badini’s abduction, his relatives, along with Baloch political activists and students, staged a demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club. They called for the immediate recovery of Naseebullah and an end to the widespread practice of enforced disappearances.

The protest, which drew attention to the ongoing plight of Baloch families, was attended by the relatives of other missing persons, including Rashid Lango and several others. Participants carried photographs of their loved ones and voiced their demands for their safe return.

Naseebullah Badini 19-years-old, was abducted by Pakistani security forces on November 25, 2014, from Chagai Stop, Nushki, while he was a 12th-grade student. His family has received no information about his whereabouts since then.

Naseebullah’s sister, Mahpara Baloch, addressed the crowd, stating that her brother had been targeted simply for being Baloch and was likely imprisoned without trial.

She lamented that despite exhausting all legal avenues, they have not received any justice. “If there are any charges against Naseebullah, he should be presented in court, but even after ten years, we have not received any answers,” she said.

The protesters highlighted that enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been ongoing for decades, with over 40,000 individuals, ranging from journalists and students to political leaders, abducted and disappeared.

Sit-In Protest for Diljan Baloch’s Recovery Enters Seventh Day

Meanwhile, the sit-in protest for the recovery of Diljan Baloch, forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces from Awaran, has entered its seventh consecutive day.

The protest, which began on November 18, shows no signs of ending. Protesters, including women, children, and the elderly, remain determined to continue until Diljan Baloch is recovered.

The protesters said that authorities have imposed a complete curfew in Awaran, denying them access to food and water. They also report that authorities have repeatedly shut down communications networks to disrupt the protest.

Despite threats from security forces, who surrounded the sit-in on the night of November 23 and warned of baton charges if the protest did not end, the demonstrators remained resolute.

They have vowed to continue their protest until Diljan is returned to his family. The protesters have called for the support of lawyers, student organisations, and human rights groups to ensure their safety and to pressure the authorities into taking action.

Protest in Surab Gadar Over Missing Men

The relatives of Shabbir Ahmed son of Bashir Ahmed and Aziz Ahmed son of Abdullah, both of whom went missing from Surab Gadar, have initiated a protest against their continued disappearance.

They held a protest at Zero Point in Surab, where the demonstrators have blocked both the CPEC road and the Quetta-Karachi National Highway.

As a result, traffic has been completely halted on both sides of the CPEC route, and hundreds of passenger vehicles travelling on the Quetta-Karachi highway were stranded.

The stranded travellers have appealed to authorities to negotiate with the protesters and reopen the highway as soon as possible.

Abdul Rashid’s Family Marks 12 Years of His Enforced Disappearance

Additionally, the family of Abdul Rashld Baloch, who was abducted on November 27, 2012, from Jinnah Town in Quetta, held a protest to mark the 12th anniversary of his disappearance.

Abdul Rashld’s sister stated that her family had received no information about his whereabouts and called for his immediate recovery. She condemned enforced disappearances as a severe violation of human rights, causing immense suffering to the victims’ families.

“Enforced disappearances are not just an issue for one family; they are a crime against humanity,” she said. She urged human rights organisations, civil society groups, and international bodies to intensify efforts to ensure the recovery of missing persons and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

She highlighted that enforced disappearances are not just an issue for one family, but a crime against humanity. “We must work together to end this practice so that every citizen can enjoy their right to freedom and justice.”

A social media campaign for Abdul Rashid Baloch’s recovery will be launched on Platform X (formerly Twitter) on November 27, 2024, to raise awareness and call for an end to the practice of enforced disappearances.

Calls for International Action Against Forced Disappearances

As protests and campaigns for justice continue across Balochistan, the families of the missing Baloch individuals have been making an urgent call to the international community to take action against the ongoing crisis. They emphasise that enforced disappearances in Balochistan not only violate human rights but also challenge the very principles of justice and accountability.

The protesters are united in their demand that authorities bring the perpetrators of enforced disappearances to justice and provide the missing individuals with the freedom they are entitled to under international law.

The ongoing protests, social media campaigns, and appeals for international intervention reflect the growing anger and frustration of the Baloch families of forcibly disappeared victims, who continue to fight for the return of their loved ones and an end to enforced disappearances.