Balochistan: VBMP Demands Probe into Extrajudicial Killing of Missing Baloch Man

SHAAL (QUETTA): Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has called for an independent investigation into the extrajudicial killing of Muhammad Sudais, whose family says he was forcibly disappeared in May before the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) reported that he had been killed in an encounter with security forces in August.

Muhammad Ashraf, the father of Sudais, made remarks during a press conference at the VBMP protest camp in Quetta, where he was accompanied by other relatives and VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch.

Ashraf said his son was taken into custody from Madressah Road in Killi Ismail during the night between May 19 and 20, on the pretext of questioning. He said that Sudais was subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location and forcibly disappeared.

According to Ashraf, a commission was hearing the case concerning his son’s disappearance, with a hearing scheduled for the day of the press conference. However, he said the CTD submitted a report to the commission stating that Sudais had been killed on August 20, alongside five other individuals, during an encounter with security forces in the Aghbarg area.

The report stated that Sudais’s body had been handed over to the Edhi Foundation for burial.

Ashraf said that his son had been unlawfully killed in a staged encounter after being taken into custody and forcibly disappeared. He called on the authorities to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation, hold those responsible accountable under the law and ensure that his son’s remains were returned to the family.

VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch expressed concern over the allegations, saying that anyone accused of a crime should be brought before a court and given a full opportunity to defend themselves in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

He said the sequence of enforced disappearance followed by a report of death in an encounter raised serious concerns and required an independent investigation.

Baloch called for the disclosure of all facts relating to Sudais’s detention, disappearance, death and burial. He also demanded a judicial or independent inquiry to establish responsibility and ensure legal action against any officials found to have committed wrongdoing.

He further urged the authorities to verify the identity of the body, burial records and other relevant evidence before handing over Sudais’s remains to his family, allowing them to carry out burial rites in accordance with their religious and humanitarian rights.

The family and VBMP called on the relevant authorities to address the case and ensure accountability.