A seminar organized by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) was held at the Quetta Press Club, marking International Human Rights Day. The event convened leaders from various political parties and student organizations in Balochistan to discuss the region’s human rights situation, with a particular focus on enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
Key speakers at the seminar, including VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch and former Federal Minister Agha Hassan Baloch Advocate among others, called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo moto notice of the extrajudicial killings of missing persons in Balochistan and to initiate a judicial inquiry into these incidents. They emphasized the necessity of addressing these issues within the framework of national laws and respecting constitutional rights.
The seminar highlighted the contrast between Balochistan’s recognition for its significance and the perceived neglect in addressing its human rights issues. An eight-point resolution was passed, calling for immediate actions including the recovery of missing persons, cessation of forced disappearances, and adherence to legal procedures for arrests in cases of allegations. The resolution specifically called for an end to the practice of killing detained Baloch individuals in “fake encounters.”
The seminar advocated for a Supreme Court-led judicial inquiry into these alleged extrajudicial killings and requested information be provided to families regarding missing persons who are no longer alive.
Additionally, the resolution called for compliance with the United Nations’ request for a report on Usman Kakar’s case and lifting the ban on political leaders Mukhtiar Khan Yousafzai, Mohsin Daawar, and Manzoor Pashteen’s entry into Balochistan.
The event was notably attended by many relatives of missing persons, including the mothers of Zakir Majeed and Deen Muhammad Marri, highlighting the broad impact of these issues in the region.