Families of the disappeared have intensified their protests in Balochistan, demanding the immediate recovery of their loved ones. In Turbat, relatives of Sher Jan and Irshad Baloch, who were allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance by Pakistani forces in the Buleda area of Kech district, staged a sit-in at Fida Ahmed Chowk on Friday. The protesters called for the immediate release of the two young men, asserting that both were taken after a violent raid the previous night. Despite inquiries at police stations and other relevant authorities, no information was provided on their whereabouts.
The relatives emphasized that if their loved ones had committed any crime, they should be presented before a legal body rather than being held in undisclosed detention. They warned that if their demands were not met, they would escalate their protest to the main highways, and the authorities would be responsible for any disruption.
They also called on political and human rights groups to take notice of the issue and raise voices in solidarity with the victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
In Khuzdar, a separate protest was organized by the family of Salman Baloch, who disappeared two years ago from Quetta’s Hazarganji area. The demonstration, which included a rally from Shaheed Professor Razaq Chowk to Azadi Chowk, saw participation from men, women, and children, alongside members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). The protestors chanted slogans against enforced disappearances and demanded answers from the authorities. A significant security presence was reported at the rally, and mobile and internet services were suspended, only to be restored after the protest concluded.
Speaking at the rally, Salman Baloch’s mother expressed her anguish over two years of relentless efforts to locate her son through protests and court appearances, all without success or any clear explanation. She appealed to the government and human rights groups for urgent intervention. Meanwhile, Salman Baloch’s family announced a campaign on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling on activists and sympathizers to join in raising awareness.
In Quetta, the longstanding hunger strike camp against enforced disappearances in Balochistan marked its 5,629th day on Friday. Khaleel Baloch, former president of the Baloch Council, visited the camp in solidarity with the affected families. Speaking at the camp, VBMP Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch highlighted the resilience of the Baloch people in the face of suffering. He stressed that despite enduring grave injustices, the Baloch community has maintained peaceful resistance, signaling their determination to achieve freedom from “oppression.”
Mama Qadeer noted that the struggle for Baloch rights has awakened national consciousness and garnered international attention. He highlighted that while the Pakistani state frames the issue as an internal matter involving a few discontented individuals willing to negotiate, the reality is that systematic violence and killings persist. The government, he said, speaks of negotiations while simultaneously disposing of bodies in desolate areas and urging submission to state authority.