Baloch Human Rights Organization (BHRO) held a protest against the enforced disappearance of civilians including Nawaz Atta, Information Secretary of BHRO in front of Quetta Press Club. Families of victims of enforced disappearances and civil society activists participated in the demonstration.
While addressing the participants, the activists of BHRO and VBMP said that increase in enforced disappearances of civilians across Balochistan is worrisome. Victimizing of women and children has given rise to an environment of fear and insecurity among the populace which we strongly condemn.
The Vice Chairperson of Baloch Human Rights Organization Tayyaba Baloch said Nawaz Atta Baloch was the Information Secretary of BHRO who has been raising his voice against human rights violations in Balochistan. On October 28, 2017, forces raided his apartment in Gulistan-e-Johar and whisked him away. His whereabouts are still unknown. The organization also organized token hunger strikes camp in Karachi and carried out demonstrations in Quetta and Karachi against his abduction. During our protests, we have expressed several times that if Nawaz Atta Baloch was involved in any crime, he should be treated in accordance with the constitution.
The apathy of authorities towards the human rights violations in Balochistan has developed a situation of a humanitarian crisis. Nawaz Atta Baloch and other enforced disappeared persons should be released immediately. If any individual has committed any crime, he should be present in the court and allow him to practice his basic legal and constitutional rights. The participants appealed to the federal and provincial government to recover all disappeared persons safely so that the families get relieved from the pain and suffering of not knowing the whereabouts and fate of their loved ones.
