Zakir Majeed’s enforced disappearance completes one decade

Zakir Majeed’s enforced disappearance completes one decade

Published by: Baloch Students Organization –  Azad

The Balochistan Post

Zakir Majeed Baloch was born on 22nd April 1983 in Gazgi village of Khuzdar city. His father’s name is Majeed Baloch.

Zakir Majeed did intermediate from Balochistan Residential College Khuzdar and later graduated in B.Sc from Government Degree College Khuzdar. He was a student of Masters in English at Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences Uthal when he was forcibly disappeared.

Zakir Majeed Baloch played his due role in Baloch student politics in such a crucial time when the state of Pakistan had been implementing its “Kill-and-Dump” policy, where many Baloch political leaders and activists had been the victim of enforced disappearances, target killings and assassinations.

Zakir Majeed played a vital role in spread of political consciousness among the Baluch youth. He was an advocate of universal declaration of human rights. He had always raised voice against the human rights violation committed by Pakistani state in Balochistan.

Zakir Majeed Baloch was elected as central committee member in 2005 and became the senior joint secretary of BSO in its 17th national council session, which was conducted in Degree College Shaal (Quetta) in 2006. He was one of the most influential figures of his time in student politics due to his hard work, commitment, clear vision and political mobilization of students and masses. In 2008, the 18th council session of BSO Azad was held in University of Balochistan Shaal (Quetta), where Zakir Majeed was elected as senior vice chairman of BSO Azad.

Zakir Majeed Baloch was enforcedly disappeared on 8th June 2009 along with two of his friends Waheed Baluch and Basit Baluch. Later Waheed and Basit were released while Zakir Majeed was kept in extrajudicial custody and till this day no one has any trace of him.

Waheed Baloch and Basit Baloch are the eye witnesses of this incident. Before the unfortunate incident of Zakir Majeed’s enforced disappearance, he was arrested two times due to his engagements of conducting protests demonstration and rallies.

From the mountains of Baluchistan to the valleys of Sindh, Zakir Majeed was an inspiration for the youth. He was a brave leader and had firmly stood with his ideology. He devoted his days and nights for the betterment of Baluch society. He publicly criticized the tyrants of Baluch land. State was afraid of this young leader who had influenced the Baluch nation at a very young age. He had not only worked for the awareness of his oppressed nation but also for the Sindhi nation in general and mobilization of the youth in particular.

Zakir Majeed had described slavery as a curse and had always asked youth to join hands to cut the chains of slavery. He struggled for the national identity and termed it as the solution of all the problems faced by the Baluch nation.

After the enforced disappearance of Zakir Majeed Baloch, his sister Farzana Majeed Baluch begun struggle for the release of her brother. Zakir’s family has conducted press conferences, protests, rallies, and the historical long march of nearly 2500 kilometers but all in vain because the Supreme Court of Pakistan along with the commission of missing persons has failed to surface Zakir Majeed. His duration of enforced disappearance has completed one decade today.

The family of Zakir Majeed has passed those ten years in deep grief and agony.

Pakistan has been grossly violating the international laws in Balochistan since its invasion over the Baloch land. Today thousands of innocent Baluch irrespective of gender and age including Zakir Majeed are still in the extrajudicial custody of security establishment of Pakistan. The international community should pressurize Pakistan to release Zakir Majeed Baluch and the enforcedly disappeared Baluch people from all walks of life.