Families of the seven individuals detained by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) from Shaban, Quetta, organized a protest outside the Balochistan Assembly on Saturday, demanding their immediate release. The demonstrators included women and children holding placards that showcased their demands.
During the protest, Balochistan’s Interior Minister Ziaullah Langove and Livestock and Dairy Development Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar met with the families, assuring them of the government’s commitment to rescuing the abductees. Langove told the families that Kakar has been designated as the government focal person to communicate with the families of the detainees. He said his government is dedicated to standing by the families and working tirelessly to secure the safe return of their loved ones.
It’s important to note the significant disparity in how the families of Baloch missing persons, detained by Pakistani security forces, are treated compared to the families of those detained by the BLA. While the latter receive prompt and considerate attention from authorities, the former often face years of tireless advocacy and protest without similar urgency or compassion. Families of Baloch missing persons endure harassment, beatings during protests, propaganda, and threats that their loved ones will be killed or that other family members will be detained if they do not cease their campaigns.
When asked about the possibility of negotiating a prisoner exchange with the BLA, which the group has offered, Langove did not give a positive reply but implied that the government might resort to using force.
The BLA has claimed responsibility for the abductions, which took place on June 20 during the group’s intelligence-based operation in the Shaban, a picnic point on the outskirts of Quetta. The group reported that its Fateh Squad detained ten individuals in the operation. Although three detainees have since been released, seven remain in BLA custody.
The BLA stated that the remaining seven detainees were tried in the ‘Baloch national court’ and found guilty of collaborating with the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies against the Baloch national movement. The group’s spokesperson announced that, following the principles of international warfare, the BLA’s senior command council has offered a prisoner exchange to the Pakistani military, giving them a week to respond. If no agreement is reached, the BLA intends to carry out the sentences of the convicted individuals.