Balochistan: Families of Missing Persons Block CPEC Road in Hoshab

QUETTA: The families of Zaman Jan and Abdul Hassan staged a protest on the CPEC road at Hoshap-M8 on Monday, blocking traffic in both directions. The protest aims to demand the immediate recovery of their loved ones, who were forcibly disappeared over a week ago.

The blockade has caused long queues of vehicles on both sides, leaving commuters stranded.

Ground connectivity between Turbat and other areas, including Quetta, Panjgur, Surab, Khuzdar, and Mastung, has been disrupted due to the sit-in. Both passenger and cargo vehicles have been stuck on the highway since the protest began in the morning.

The families have vowed to continue their protest until Zaman Jan and Abdul Hassan are safely returned. According to them, a three-day deadline given to the authorities to address the issue expired without any response. 

The incident dates back to December 16, 2024, when Zaman Jan son of Sipahan, Abdul Hassan son of Rehmat and Altaf son of Behram were reportedly taken away by Pakistani forces. While Altaf was released two days later, Zaman Jan and Abdul Hassan remain missing.

The families have accused District Council Chairman Mir Hothman of involvement in the disappearances, saying that he summoned the missing persons to his residence before they were abducted. During a press conference on December 20, the families issued a three-day ultimatum, warning of stronger action if their loved ones were not recovered.

With no resolution in sight, the families have escalated their protest and called on the public to join them in their sit-in at Hoshap to demand justice and accountability. “We will not back down until Zaman Jan and Abdul Hassan are brought back safely,” they said in a statement.

So far, there has been no official response from the authorities or any attempts to negotiate with the protesters to resolve the situation and reopen the highway. 

It is worth noting that with the growing number of enforced disappearances across Balochistan, similar protests by the families of victims have become increasingly frequent in towns and cities in Balochistan.