5 new cases of enforced disappearance have been reported from Kech and Panjgur district of Balochistan in just two days.
According to the details received by The Balochistan Post, 4 persons have been allegedly detained by the security forces in Kech, Balochistan, today. In Panjgur, the zonal leader of the Baloch Student Organization Pajjar (BSO-Pajjar), Alam Baloch, was abducted two days ago. In total, 5 new cases of enforced disappearances have surfaced in Balochistan in the past two days.
According to sources, the security forces raided a house in Kech, detained 4 youths, including two brothers, and moved them to unknown locations. These persons are Ahsaab s/o Khalil, Zaman Jan s/o Sipah Khan, Majid s/o Sipah Khan and Abul Hassan s/o Rehmatullah. The locals reportedly visited the security forces’ encampment and requested the release of the said missing persons. The security forces denied their involvement in the abduction altogether.
In Panjgur, the zonal leader and the press secretary of the BSO-Pajjar, Alam Baloch, was allegedly abducted by the security forces two days ago and remains unheard since. In a statement, the representative of BSO-Pajjar confirmed the news of Mr Baloch’s abduction. He said that Alam Baloch was/is a student of Balochi literature at the Balochistan University. The spokesperson further said that the enforced disappearance has gained momentum during the COVID-19 lockdown which is a “tragedy.”
It is pertinent to mention that such abductions have been carried out innumerable times in Balochistan. Leaders, activists and vocal members of various student organizations have been allegedly detained by the security forces and kept in confinement. Feroz Baloch, the leader of Baloch Student Actions Committee (BSAC) was allegedly detained by the Pakistani forces, last year in Kalat district of Balochistan. His whereabouts and condition are still unknown.
Whereas, only in May this year, dozens of students were abducted from different areas of Balochistan.
Some prominent student leaders, such as Zakir Majeed is missing for 11 years and Zahid Kurd for 6 years. Both were affiliated to the Baloch Students Organisation- Azad(BSO_A). The Pakistani government banned BSO Azad in March 2013.