Baloch Human Rights Organization and Voice for Baloch Missing Persons holds a press conference in hunger strike camp of victims of families of enforced disappeared persons in Quetta and express their concern on the recent surge of recovery of mutilated bodies across Balochistan.
For the last 70 years, the continuous human rights violations in Balochistan have worsened with the passage of time. Enforced disappearance of people, subjecting them to inhuman torture and extra-judicially killing them is order of the day. There is not a single person and family in Balochistan whose human rights are not violated. Use of excessive force has made everyone’s life miserable. Hundreds of families have lost their settlements and live stocks due to indiscriminate use of force and were compelled to migrate to other areas for their safety. Says Bibi Gul, Chairperson of Baloch Human Rights Organization.
Enforced disappearance and extrajudicial executions of people was intensified at the beginning of 2009 when people were forcefully disappeared on the basis of their political affiliations. They were subjected to torture and were killed and their bodies were dumped in desolated areas. Today, after ten years, such incidents are continuously taking place with more intensity. The number of victims of enforced disappearances has doubled in recent years whereas, recovery of thousands of mutilated bodies is self-evident of worst human rights situation of Balochistan, she adds.
The recovery of ten decomposed bodies from Quetta and their burial in Teera Mil Graveyard without DNA analysis is tragic and is deliberate action of the Balochistan’s government, intends to hide these crimes against humanity and exonerate the perpetrators. We believe that Balochistan’s government is a partner in these crimes.
The incidents of recovery of mutilated bodies and mass graves are not new in Balochistan. Mass graves were discovered before in Tootak, Panjgur, Dera Bugti and Pishin areas of Balochistan where enforced disappeared persons were found buried and we believe that the recovered bodies of Quetta also belong to enforced disappeared persons.
The families of victims of enforced disappearance are protesting from last ten years on the platform of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons but in all these years they have only received mutilated bodies which is the violation of International Human Rights law.
For two months, the families of victims of enforced disappearances, through multiple peaceful means protesting for the safe release of their loved ones and in case of any crime demanding their fundamental right of fair trial but the Balochistan’s government, on the other hand, instead of addressing this humanitarian issue, silencing them by force.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan himself has acknowledged the fact that the enforced disappeared persons are in the custody of forces and pledged to take measures for their safe recovery but despite his commitment, the mutilated bodies continue to reappear and burying them while declaring them orphans raises many questions.
The Home Minister of Balochistan also assured families of victims of enforced disappearance to safely release them in a week but even after his assurance an increase in numbers of enforced disappearance is reported.
On one hand, people are being forcefully disappeared on the basis of their political affiliation and on the other hand threatening families to remain silent is causing traumatic mental pain to the families and recovery of 10 decomposed bodies increased their concerns about the well-being of their loved ones, says Bibi Gul.
Baloch Human Rights Organization and Voice for Baloch Missing Persons appeals to United Nations and human rights organizations to take notice of human rights violations in Balochistan and hold accountable the perpetrators and conduct DNA test for the identification of unidentified dead bodies recovered from Balochistan.
