Locals take to the streets in Balochistan to protest enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings
Balochistan: Protests broke out around the country as residents, students, and families of the missing marched through the streets, condemning extrajudicial executions and demanding a stop to the enforced disappearances.
The Balochistan Post (TBP) reported that Law College Turbat students in Kech staged a protest on Wednesday to express their disapproval of Kamil Sharif and Ehsan Sarwar Baloch’s enforced abduction. They demanded the safe return of both missing people as they marched across the college’s grounds with banners and signs.
Protesters gathered in front of the administration building, calling for immediate action and accusing Pakistani authorities of doing “unconstitutional and illegal acts” by detaining Baloch students for extended periods of time.
According to TBP, the family of Israr Allah, who has been missing since December 3, 2023, held a protest at Gadani Mor on the Quetta-Karachi highway, obstructing traffic and demanding his return. They have now staged five protests, after four previous ones that they say had no meaningful impact.
The demonstrators have criticized the local government and political figures for “false negotiations” and “empty promises.” They claim that officials told them to fly the Pakistani flag at a previous demonstration, promising that Israr would be freed, but no progress has been made, according to the TBP report.
According to the TBP report, Mir Ahmed Chiltanwal Sumalani in Mastung claimed that Pakistani Forces had kidnapped his younger brother, Zahoor Ahmed Sumalani, by force on Wednesday at 2:00 PM at the Sinjidi FC checkpoint in Kaanak.
He said that the CTD and intelligence services had raided his house, Chiltanwal House, and the whole Umarabad Kaanak hamlet two weeks before, allegedly arresting two of his cousins who were subsequently found dead.
The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) continued to hold their demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club for the 5,735th consecutive day, according to TBP. The Baloch Students Organization (BSO) sent representatives to the camp to show their solidarity, including Zonal President Kabeer Baloch and Secretary-General Samand Baloch.
VBMP Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch said that his organization is calling for justice for victims of extrajudicial executions as well as the safe return of missing people. “February has been one of the worst months for human rights in Balochistan, with over 60 enforced disappearances and three extrajudicial killings reported,” he said.
Despite years of campaigning and demonstrations, “the situation in Balochistan continues to deteriorate,” according to Mama Qadeer, who questioned the government’s reaction, and official policies are still insufficient to solve the problem of missing individuals.
