6029th Day of VBMP Protest: Concerns Over Forced Disappearance of Farzana Zehri
SHAAL, BALOCHISTAN: The ongoing protest camp by Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) against enforced disappearances in Balochistan reached its 6029th day on Sunday. The camp, led by VBMP Executive Committee member Niaz Mohammad, continues to serve as a platform for raising awareness about the increasing cases of forced disappearances.
Individuals from various political, social and civil backgrounds visited the camp to express their solidarity with the families of the enforced disappeared persons. The protest camp has become a focal point for those seeking justice and accountability from the state regarding the growing number of disappearances.
The chairperson of VBMP, Nasrullah Baloch, also joined the protest, using the occasion to speak out against the ongoing crisis in Balochistan. In his statement, Baloch expressed grave concern over the alleged abduction of Farzana Zehri, a Baloch woman from Khuzdar, who is believed to have been forcibly disappeared by state forces earlier this month.
According to VBMP’s reports, Farzana Zehri, the daughter of Mohammad Bakhsh, was detained by security forces while she was returning home from a hospital in Khuzdar. It is alleged that she was taken into custody by forces on the evening of her return and later moved to an undisclosed location.
Since her detention, her family has not been provided with any official information about her whereabouts, prompting fears of a forced disappearance.
Nasrullah Baloch condemned the incident in the strongest terms, calling it a blatant violation of both national laws and basic human rights. “As of now, there has been no official explanation regarding Farzana’s detention, and her family has not been informed about her whereabouts. This is a serious violation of the law and a grave injustice,” Baloch said.
Baloch also highlighted that Farzana’s case is part of a broader pattern of human rights abuses in Balochistan, where the enforced disappearances of Baloch women have become increasingly common. He pointed to the cases of three other women, Mah Jabeen, Nasreena, and Rahima, who were also detained by security forces under similar circumstances and have since vanished without a trace. To date, none of these women has been presented in court, nor have their families been provided with any information about their status.
In his statement, Nasrullah Baloch expressed outrage over the silence of the provincial government in Balochistan, which he said was complicit in these actions by failing to speak out or take any corrective measures. He also criticised the state’s unconstitutional actions and urged the authorities to take immediate action to address these disappearances.
“We demand that the government take immediate notice of the enforced disappearances of Farzana Zehri, Mah Jabeen, Nasreena, and Rahima,” Baloch stated. “If there are any charges against these women, they should be presented in court in accordance with the law. If they are innocent, their immediate release should be ensured.”
Nasrullah Baloch also appealed to human rights organisations, both domestic and international, to intervene and take concrete steps to secure the safe recovery of these missing women. He called on the international community to hold the Pakistani government accountable for the ongoing human rights violations in the region.
The VBMP protest camp, which has become a symbol of resistance for the families of the missing, remains an important platform for raising awareness and demanding justice for the victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
