The Prime Minister should provide the list of people he claimed to release. BHRO & VBMP

Baloch Human Rights Organization and Voice for Baloch Missing Persons jointly held a press conference in Quetta Press Club and said that the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan is worsening. In last one week, security forces have abducted many people including several students from Quetta and other parts of Balochistan and shifted them to unknown locations while the allegations and crimes resulted into their abductions was not revealed. 

Last week, security forces forcefully disappeared a student activist of Baloch Student Organization, Jeand Baloch along with his father and younger brother in a raid on their house in Kili Shaikhan, Quetta. On the same night, another student Ameen Abdullah was also forcefully disappeared by forces from Barori Road, Quetta. Their whereabouts remain unknown to date. 

On December 5, security forces accompanied by civil dress personnel forcibly disappeared 3 more students of the same organization from Quetta. They are identified as Zareef Rind, Changaiz Baloch and Aurangzaib. Moreover, Asif Baloch, a student of Degree College Quetta was forcibly disappeared from his home in Dalbandin whereas, Amir Zehri and his brother Adil Zehri was abducted by forces from Chamrok, Khuzdar. Adil was released later however, whereabouts of Amir remain unknown. Another student Dolat Khuda Bakhsh was also abducted by forces on his way to Turbat from Quetta.

For years, we have been demanding from the higher authorities to produce enforced disappeared persons in court, if committed any crime, and trialed them as per state constitution and law rather making the lives of victim’s families hell by detaining their loved ones for years unconstitutionally without revealing their whereabouts. It is also the violation of International convention which state has ratified.

From last 35 days, the families of victims of enforced disappeared persons came from various parts of Balochistan are recording their demonstration through peaceful channels for the safe recovery of their loved ones but their just demand is being ignored and an increase in the intensity of enforced disappearances have been recorded. It seems that government is helpless to take measures on the issue of enforced disappearances and due to the irresponsibility and lack of interest, the enforced disappearance cases are not being addressed and such ignorance will prove to be harmful for the restoration of the peace in the province. 

The families of victims of enforced disappearances have carried out several demonstration and rallies, appealed to Chief Minister, federal government and judiciary to take effective measures and play their role in solving this humanitarian issue and provide justice to families and victims but were completely ignored. Secretary to interior minister has assured us that the government will find the whereabouts of enforced disappeared persons in 20 days and will take measures for their release if families end their token hunger strike camp but even after the assurance of Secretary to interior minister several other people were forcefully disappeared which raises questions on the credibility of government.

We appeal to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan to provide the families the list of enforced disappeared person which he claimed to be released in a statement issued in media. Security forced forcefully disappeared 3 more people on the same day Prime Minister gave this statement which contradicts with his claim. 

We conclude by appealing once again to Chief Justice of Pakistan, the federal government and Chief Minister of Balochistan to seriously address this humanitarian issue so that the families of victims of enforced disappeared people return back to their homes.