The International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances has come and gone, yet, regrettably, the harrowing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan persists. On August 28, Noor Khatun, a resident of Sibbi, and her children were forcibly disappeared from the United Hotel in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. Furthermore, on August 30, the body of Ghulam Farooq Zehri, who had been forcibly disappeared from Mastung a year earlier, was discovered in Quetta.
This solemn occasion in Balochistan was marked by poignant protests. For the past five days, Saira has been tirelessly demonstrating in the heart of Islamabad, the country’s capital, advocating for the recovery of her forcibly disappeared brothers. Their heartfelt cries echo through the corridors of power.
In Karachi, Sammi Deen, Hamida, Fauzia, and Seema Baloch, along with several families of those who have been forcibly disappeared, are united in their plea for the safe return of their loved ones. However, instead of addressing their grievances, state institutions have resorted to silencing their voices through the use of force.
In Quetta, Rashid Baloch’s mother has diligently pursued justice by knocking on every available door, but justice remains elusive. Instead of locating Saeeda Baloch’s brothers, they face threats, while Mama Qadeer has steadfastly maintained her protest for over 5,000 days, demanding an end to enforced disappearances.
In the strife-ridden province of Balochistan, the desperate quest for the recovery of forcibly disappeared individuals has tragically evolved to the search for their lifeless bodies, as evidenced by recent killings. The international human rights community’s silence and reluctance to hold Pakistan accountable for the scourge of enforced disappearances in Balochistan have compounded the human tragedy, resulting in the disappearance of thousands of innocent lives.