The families of forcibly disappeared persons in Balochistan’s Kech district have announced a series of protests, including a rally and a shutter-down strike, to demand the safe return of their loved ones. The announcement was made during a press conference at the sit-in site outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Turbat.
The families said they organized a long march from Buleda to Turbat on June 2, 2024, which evolved into a five-day sit-in in front of Deputy Commissioner Kech’s office. On June 6, they temporarily halted the protest following assurances from district officials, including the district chairman, Deputy Commissioner Kech, ADC, and AC Kech. However, despite these promises, no action was taken, and their loved ones were not released.
“Our demands are simple: we want our missing children and loved ones back,” the families said. During Eid, they resumed their protest with a rally on June 17, 2024, and continued their sit-in at Shaheed Fida Chowk for four days. On June 20, the sit-in moved back to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where it remains ongoing, with no response from the authorities.
The families accused state institutions of forcibly disappearing the Baloch youth. They claimed that daily, young people are taken from educational institutions, streets, and homes, and falsely implicated in cases. “Every day, young people are being picked up from educational institutions, streets, and homes and falsely implicated in cases,” they said.
They said that individuals accused of illicit activities should be produced in court and prosecuted as per the law. “If the state suspects someone of anti-state activities, they should follow legal procedures, issue arrest warrants, and present them in court,” they said.
“Disappearing them illegally and torturing their families is unacceptable. Many of those who return are psychologically and physically damaged.”
The families emphasized that their demands were constitutional and lawful. “Our demands are within the bounds of the constitution and law. We have no political ambitions. We are simply seeking the return of our loved ones,” they said.
While announcing their protest schedule, they said, “We will hold a peace walk from the sit-in site to Park Hotel at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, June 26, 2024. On June 27, there will be a rally from Ghulam Nabi Pump to the sit-in site at 5:30 PM. On Monday, July 1, we will hold a shutter-down strike in the Kech district. We appeal to the trader community to support us by closing shops and business centers on that day.”
They concluded by urging all political and social parties, student organizations, and the people of Kech to support their cause and amplify their voices.