The family of Bahadur Bashir, a Karachi University student detained by Pakistani security forces, is protesting at Pasni Zero Point, demanding his safe return. Bahadur was taken while visiting his hometown for Eid celebrations, and his family has vowed to continue their protest until he is released.
Bahadur’s brother recounted that three days ago, his elder brother was taken by security forces in Pasni. In response, the family began their protest, blocking Pasni Zero Point, a critical traffic junction on the Makran Coastal Highway.
The local administration requested two days to locate Bahadur, and the family agreed to suspend their protest temporarily. However, when the administration failed to deliver on its promise, the family resumed their blockade.
The protest has caused significant traffic congestion, with hundreds of vehicles stranded on the Makran Coastal Highway.
Enforced disappearances have plagued Balochistan for two decades, with a recent spike in cases involving Baloch students. Hundreds of students and graduates have been forcibly disappeared, leaving families and peers in distress. Organizations like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons tirelessly advocate for the return of these missing individuals, but their efforts have yet to yield results.
As Bahadur Bashir’s family protested in the intense summer heat, reports surfaced of another disappearance in Hub Chowki, Balochistan. Shahdad Ismail, a resident of Ameerabad, Hub Chowki, was reportedly abducted by security forces on February 9, 2024, and remains missing.
Shahdad’s disappearance was initially kept quiet, likely due to fears for his safety and the well-being of his family. This is a common occurrence in cases of enforced disappearance, where families are often threatened and coerced into silence.
Many such cases remain unreported, and families live in fear, unable to protest or seek help on social media due to threats to their lives.