Family of Missing Teacher and Singer Rafiq Oman Marks 11 Years Without Justice

SHAAL (QUETTA):  In a press conference held at the Turbat Press Club, the daughter of the enforced disappeared school teacher and renowned Balochi singer, Rafiq Oman, along with her mother and grandmother, revealed that it has been 11 years since her father was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in the Turbat area of Balochistan.

Despite the passing of more than a decade, the family has yet to receive any information about his whereabouts or well-being.

Rafiq Oman, who was the headmaster of Government Boys High School Bal and also known for his Balochi music, went missing on November 21, 2014.

According to his daughter, Oman was abducted after returning to Turbat from an official assignment, while travelling towards Bal Nigor, he was forcibly disappeared near the Kech Grammar School.

During the press conference, Rafiq Oman’s daughter shared the emotional toll the family has endured. “We still don’t know whether our father is alive or not,” she said. “I don’t know if my mother is a widow or if my father is still alive. My younger sister was born just a few months after his disappearance; she has never seen him. All she has are the memories and hopes of his return.”

Rafiq Oman’s mother, who is now elderly, was also present at the conference. The family shared how the grandmother sleeps outside during the winter and inside during the summer, as she has no idea what her son might be enduring or where he is.

The family expressed deep frustration, highlighting the lack of justice or progress despite years of efforts to locate their loved one. “We have been to courts, commissions, and government institutions. We have knocked on every door, but there has been no progress in finding him,” the daughter lamented. “We are still struggling for justice. We are constantly suffering mentally and economically.”

The family’s plea for justice is clear: they demand to know their father’s fate. “If there are any charges against him, they should be presented in accordance with the law,” they said. “We just want to know if he is safe. We have the right to know.”

The family also made an appeal to both government institutions and human rights organisations for immediate action to recover Rafiq Oman and to establish a serious, long-term policy to address the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

Despite their prolonged suffering, the family assured that their struggle for justice would continue peacefully. “We are hopeful that the media will help us by raising awareness and making sure our voice reaches the public and the authorities,” they said, showing resilience and determination to find answers.