Balochistan: Growing enforced disappearances and human rights violations is alarming: IVBMP

QUETTA: The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons has expressed grave concerns over the ‘growing enforced disappearances, and human rights violations in Balochistan amid government claims that it is ‘thinking to negotiate’ with what the government calls ‘disgruntled Baloch’.

According to details, on July 10, the Pakistan forces whisked away a Baloch lawyer named, Shakir Baloch from his hometown Turbat, Balochistan.

Baloch is reportedly a practicing lawyer at District and session court Turbat who arrived last night from Islamabad to his hometown Turbat and was immediately abducted by Pakistani forces.

International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (IVBMP) in a statement strongly condemned the Pakistan Army, Military Intelligence (MI) Frontier Corps (FC), Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for their ‘decades-long ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan.

The IVBMP further added that the Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan documented human rights violations in Balochistan.

Earlier on Saturday, locals reported on social media that Pakistan forces abducted four Baloch youth who out for a picnic in the mountain region of Mand in district Kech Balochistan.

The four youths have been identified as Hayataan, Qado, Sabir and Qaboos who are said to be residents of Mand town.

The locals informed Balochwarna News that the Pakistan FC has transferred the abducted youth to FC’s camp 61 in Mand.  

Earlier, Pakistani security forces of Frontier Corps FC had announced in Jama’a Masque of Soro Bazar, the central town of Mand, that anyone found near the mountain areas of Mand will be responsible for themselves.

On July 2, 2021, Pakistani forces abducted two brothers, Altaf Azad Baloch son of Mulla Bakhsh and Bahauddin Baloch son of Mulla Bakhsh, from Turbat Balochistan.

According to sources the duo was intercepted and abducted as they left the Gamshad hotel for home.

Altaf Azad Baloch has completed his MPhil degree and for years he was jobless.

Finally, he got a job in the Balochistan Levies Force a law enforcement agency.

His brother Bahauddin Baloch is working with Airport Security Forces (ASF).

Last month, June 208,  Ali Akbar Mengal son of Wali Mohammad Mengal was forcibly abducted by Frontier Corps (FC) and Intelligence Agency (ISI) from Mussa Colony, Saryab road, Quetta – the capital of Balochistan.

The victim’s father Wali Mohammad Mengal went to the police station to report his son’s disappearance but due to the inaction of the police, the family started looking for him on their own.

Road construction workers in the Mussa colony are have told  Ali Akbar’s father that people in two vehicles without number plates have abducted his son.

The victim’s father stressed that his son is a student who belongs to a poor family and appealed to the Pakistani authority to help release his son from the Pakistani intelligence agency custody.

The infamous CTD (Counter-Terrorism Department) of Pakistan has killed dozens of previously abducted Baloch in staged encounters and branded them ‘terrorists’.  

In a similar incident, the CTD recently killed five Baloch in the Hazar Ganji area of Quetta Balochistan. One of the victims was identified as Qudratuulah son of Mohammad Waris who was forcibly abducted by the Pakistani army from his home on the night of March 20, 2021.

The International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (IVBMP), has appealed for justice for the family of Qudratullah and dozens of others who were killed in similar fake encounters.

According to IVBMP, ‘In Balochistan, the rising insecurity and ongoing human rights violations including forced disappearances, torture, killings, and illegal arrests of activists and civilians is alarming and causing serious concerns.’