Protests were carried out in Quetta and the federal capital Islamabad on Friday against “enforced disappearances” and raids on academic institutions in Balochistan. Student leaders, activists and the general public participated in the protest, arguing that the government is cracking down on student politics and demanding that such practices must be stopped.
According to the details, scores of Baloch students in Islamabad took to the streets on Friday to protest against the “enforced disappearance” of Shahmir Baloch and Murtaza Baloch, the brother and cousin of BSAC Chairperson Dr. Sabiha Baloch. The students gathered in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad, carrying placards and banners that featured the pictures of the missing persons and bore messages calling for their safe return.
Addressing the gathering, the student leaders said that the Pakistani security forces are carrying out “enforced disappearances” in Balochistan, and most of the people that go missing are Baloch students. They said that Baloch student leaders and activists are being targeted for their activism – the “abduction” of Shahmir Baloch and Murtaza Baloch is an attempt to silence Dr. Sabiha Baloch, the acting Chairperson of the Baloch Students’ Action Committee and vocal advocate of students’ rights in Balochistan. The speakers demanded that the students must be safely released.
A protest rally was also carried out in the University of Balochistan in Quetta where the Baloch students marched across the varsity, raising slogans against “enforced disappearances” and asking for the release of Baloch missing persons. The participants demanded an end to raids in academic institutions and a safe environment where students can carry out their educational activities without restraint.
The protest was organized in the wake of the disappearance of Sohail Baloch and Fasih Baloch, students at the University of Balochistan, who were “abducted” when the security forces carried out a raid on the varsity hostels.
Meanwhile on Friday, in district Panjgur, the Pakistani security forces reportedly raided a house in the Kilkor area and forcefully “abducted” an individual and moved him to an unknown location. The detainee was identified as Asim s/o Malang. It is not yet known what incentivized the “abduction.”
In Mastung, however, a missing person was released from imprisonment and safely returned home. He was identified as Aqeel Ahmed, a resident of Killi Bahram Shahi in Mastung, who went missing four years ago. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons also confirmed his release.