The protest camp for ‘missing’ Hafeez Baloch concluded its 11th day in front of the National Press Club in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. Scores of Baloch students are sitting in the protest camp, surrounded myby portraits of Hafeez Baloch.
Renowned politicians, human rights activists and political workers have visited the camp, expressing solidarity with the Baloch students and demanding the safe release of Hafeez Baloch. Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari also visited the camp and promised the protesting students that the government will investigate the enforced disappearance of Hafeez Baloch. Hafeez’s father is also present at the camp to campaign for the safe recovery of his missing son.
On Friday, the mother and son of missing journalist Mudassar Naru visited the camp to express solidarity with protesting Baloch students. Naru went missing from Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in 2018, His family has been protesting for his safe release ever since. Naru’s wife, Sadaf, died of a heart attack in May 2021, hopelessly waiting for the safe release of her spouse. His son, Sachal, has also joined the campaign for the safe release of his father. The federal government has promised to investigate the disappearance of Mudassar Naru as well.
Activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari is also present at the camp with the protesting Baloch students.
Baloch student groups have been protesting for the safe release of Hafeez Baloch for almost a month now. They have organized and carried out protests, hunger strikes and peace walks for the safe recovery of Hafeez Baloch. Students have also organized social media campaigns against the enforced disappearance of Hafeez Baloch.