Three Baloch missing persons have been released in Quetta after several months of detention. The three individuals were picked up from Quetta and Hub Chowki and after being kept in custody for six months, they were released in the provincial capital Quetta on Friday.
The three individuals were identified as Qadir Kanwal, a teacher and a social reforms campaigner, Irfan Zehri, a social activist, and Bilal Jattak. The three of them are residents of tehsil Zehri, a small town 120km from district Khuzdar. The former two were picked up from Quetta in September of 2021, allegedly by the Pakistani security forces. The latter was picked from Hub Chowki in November of 2021.
Irfan Zehri and Qadir Kanwal ran a social reforms program by the name of Zehri Online. Their organization campaigns for various social causes in Zehri, like public access to health and quality education and tough action against drug trafficking. Zehri Online has also reached out to people in the remote mountain regions of Zehri to deliver rations, clothing and other essential materials to the needy.
Qadir Kanwal also runs a private school in which has attracted students from different areas of his hometown. More than 150 students are reportedly studying in his school for free.
Baloch activists ran social media campaigns for the safe recovery of the three individuals. Salma Kanwal, the ten-year-old daughter of Qadir Kanwal, has been campaigning for the safe release of his father for months. Her efforts finally paid off as her father and his companions were released in Quetta.