Preparations have been ramped up in Quetta to commemorate the “Baloch Missing Persons Day” on June 8 in various areas of Balochistan as well as in several foreign countries. Activists have mounted a supreme effort to highlight the issue of the Baloch missing persons by running a massive awareness campaign throughout Balochistan. In photos and videos shared on social media, the activists can be seen distributing pamphlets in Quetta and its rural environs and inviting the general public to participate in the campaign and show solidarity with the families of the Baloch missing persons.
According to the details, Baloch social activists and families of the missing persons distributed pamphlets in Quetta on Monday, enlightening the public on the issue of “enforced disappearances” and inviting them to be a part of the campaign. The activists could also be seen chalking messages on the walls, like: “Release Baloch missing persons” and “End enforced disappearances.” Student leader Dr Mahrang Baloch and rights activists Mehlab Deen Baloch – daughter of the missing Dr Deen Muhammad Baloch – and Seema Baloch were among the prominent faces of the campaign. The elderly members of the VBMP were also on the roads, including missing Zakir Majeed’s elderly mother and Mama Qadeer Baloch. Activists from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee were also in the presence.
The Baloch Student Organization also expressed its support of the campaign. In a recent media statement, the spokesperson for the BSO Quetta zone said that “enforced disappearances” are a major human rights issue plaguing Balochistan. Instead of resolving this issue, the state is willfully entrenching it by continuously “abducting” innocent civilians. He said that the BSO Quetta zone requests the relevant authorities to ensure the safe return of Zakir Majeed and thousands of other Baloch missing persons.
Like every other year, the “Baloch missing persons day” will be commemorated on June 8 in Quetta and various other areas of Balochistan. The Baloch diaspora abroad will also hold rallies and demonstrations in their respective staying countries to show solidarity with the families of the Baloch missing persons. An online campaign will also be carried out to further highlight the issue.
Student leader Zakir Majeed — the Vice-Chairman of the Baloch Students Organization Azad –- was “forcefully abducted” from the Mastung area of Balochistan on June 8, 2009. Tuesday will mark the 12th anniversary of his disappearance. His sister Farzana Majeed and his elderly mother have been religiously campaigning for his safe return for over a decade. BSO-Azad has been frequently highlighting the issue and demanding the safe release of its vice-chairman.
To mark the day, Baloch social activists unanimously decided to commemorate June 8th as the “Baloch missing persons day” to remember not only Zakir Majeed but thousands of others that have gone missing over the years.
As the campaign for the “Baloch missing persons day” was in full swing in several areas of Balochistan, the VBMP completed the 4338th day of its historical protest outside of the Quetta Press Club on Monday. Scores of Baloch activists visited the camp to express solidarity with the victims of “enforced disappearances” and their family members.
Addressing the gathering, Mama Qadeer said that Pakistan is perhaps the only country in the world that is governed by an all-powerful military. The military enjoys unlimited freedom and is not bound by any laws and restrictions. He said that this is a defining characteristic of this country – the so-called civilian government bows down to the mighty military which is not answerable to anyone.
He said that the human rights of the people of Balochistan are being violated – they have no freedom of expression. “Even their right to life is being continuously threatened”, the VBMP vice-chairman said.