By: Islam Abdain
The heartbreaking stories of enforced disappearances in Balochistan have persisted for decades, yet they have largely been ignored by the state. Despite promises by those in power to address this issue diligently, the abduction and kidnapping of Baloch students continue to rise. The most affected individuals in this tragic situation are Baloch females.
In their search for their loved ones, elderly mothers, young sisters, and small children have marched and protested tirelessly, demanding the safe release of their family members. Sami Deen Baloch, the general secretary of VBMP, has been at the forefront of these efforts. She herself is the daughter of Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch, who was abducted by security forces from his hometown of Khuzdar at a government hospital on June 28, 2009.
Sami argues that the Pakistani judiciary has failed to hold accountable the perpetrators of enforced disappearances, as her father was kidnapped without any credible accusations while diligently performing his duties at the hospital. To challenge the oppressive doctrines, Sami Deen, Mehlab Deen, along with the Vice President of VBMP, Mama Qadeer, and other relatives of missing persons embarked on a grueling 2,000km (1,200 miles) march over 166 days from Quetta to the capital city of Islamabad in 2014.
Sami states that human rights commissions have shown little compassion for their arduous journey. She also highlights the disdain and contempt Baloch women have faced from women organizations in Pakistan. Despite facing brutality and atrocity from an unchecked administration during protests, Sami Deen has persistently demanded justice for her father’s detention, which has now stretched to 14 years. However, the state and those in power have intervened with resentment and wrath.
The arrest of protesters in the previous year exemplifies the immodesty and dysfunction of the administration. These traumatizing acts further fuel the fires of discontent. Despite attempts to suppress abductions, the state’s actions are self-destructive.
Rasheed Baloch, another Baloch student, went missing along with his cousin Asif Baloch and other friends at the end of 2018. They were abducted in Noshki while on a picnic. While the other friends were eventually released, Rasheed Baloch and Asif Baloch remain missing to this day.
Rasheed’s mother, filled with hope, never had the chance to catch a last glimpse of her son before she took her final breath. Despite her old age, she actively participated in conscientious protests and hunger strikes camps, demanding the safe release of her beloved son. Despite being disheartened by the oppressive acts of the state, the families of missing persons never lose hope.
Belonging to a province with rigid norms and values, Baloch females gather the courage to protest, march on the streets, and hold hunger strike camps because they have endured ages of resentment and injustice. However, the judiciary system fails to provide them with justice.
Justice for women is a global concern, yet Baloch women are left without support as their voices are silenced and shattered. Their only crime is raising slogans for the safe release of their loved ones. On festive days when the Muslim world celebrates religious festivals, Baloch females and the families of missing persons stand in front of press clubs, holding posters of their abducted relatives, to voice their democratic protests. However, they are often marginalized, abused, and harassed. Nonetheless, the resilient Baloch females have filled the pages of oppressed history with the bravery of memorable ages.
The Pakistani media, lacking conscience, treats the enduring and sorrowful stories of Baloch missing persons as fiction, failing to advocate for their cause. The status quo faces a kind of mortification as the circumstances become more tangled, increasing the insurgency in Balochistan. The situation has failed to reach a promising conclusion for the affected families of missing persons.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.