Long-running VBMP Camp Reaches Day 6,020 as Families Report New Disappearance Cases in Balochistan

SHAAL, BALOCHISTAN:  The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) protest camp, established to demand the safe recovery of victims of  enforced disappearances in Balochistan, completed 6,020 days on Friday in front of the Quetta Press Club. The camp, led by VBMP chairman Nasrullah Baloch and Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch, has been a continuous sit-in for more than 16 years.

In a recent statement, VBMP announced that financial constraints have made it impossible to move the protest camp to Karachi during the winter months, a practice the organisation traditionally follows to avoid harsh weather and attract wider attention. The group said the camp would be temporarily closed from December 15 until March, after which it will resume at the same location in Quetta.

VBMP clarified that the closure is not permanent.

Family of Sajid Ahmed Voices Concern Over His Disappearance

In Turbat, the family of Sajid Ahmed, a young scholar and resident of Shahi Tump, expressed serious concern during a press conference at the Turbat Press Club regarding his enforced disappearance.

According to the family, Sajid, known for his academic background and involvement in Balochi literature, has been missing for the past four days.

The family said he was taken on 30 November from the Gwargo area of Panjgur and since then no information has surfaced regarding his whereabouts or safety. They also condemned what they described as baseless propaganda spread through fake social media accounts attempting to portray Sajid as a terrorist, calling the allegations “fabricated and malicious.”

The family appealed to the Kech district administration, law-enforcement authorities and government officials to ensure Sajid’s immediate recovery and to reveal the facts surrounding his disappearance. They stated they are awaiting “justice, transparent investigations and his prompt return.”

University Student Shehzad Reported Missing in Quetta

In a separate incident, the family of Shehzad, a fourth-semester Pharmacy student at the University of Balochistan, reported that he was picked up by Pakistani security forces from his room in Essa Nagri, Quetta, on the night of 4 December. Shehzad is originally from the Hironak area of Balochistan.

The disappearance has caused deep anxiety within the family, who met with Deputy Commissioner Kech Basheer Ahmed Badech, receiving assurances of full cooperation.

Speaking at a press conference in Turbat, Shehzad’s mother, Razia Bibi, said her son was taken without legal procedure or explanation, describing the incident as a source of severe emotional trauma for the family. She stated that Shehzad had just completed his semester exams and was scheduled to return home the following day.

“We request state institutions and senior authorities to provide us justice and recover our son immediately,” she said, urging the government to ensure his safe return.

The family emphasised their commitment to peaceful and legal avenues and appealed for urgent action from concerned authorities.