Protests erupted in various parts of Balochistan, including Hub Chowki, Khuzdar, and Turbat, as families of forcibly disappeared individuals demanded the safe recovery of their loved ones. The demonstrations included road blockades and hunger strikes, drawing attention to the growing issue of enforced disappearances in the region.
In Hub Chowki, a three-day symbolic hunger strike was initiated outside the Lasbela Press Club by the families of missing Junaid Hameed and Yasir Hameed, joined by the relatives of Chakar Bugti, who also went missing at the hands of Pakistani security forces from the city. Despite attempts by local authorities to halt the protest, the families persisted.
According to Junaid’s sister, he was abducted on the night of October 8, 2024, near Bhawani Shah Pump in Hub Chowki by armed individuals in three vehicles. She stated that her brother, a 28-year-old employee of Otsuka Pakistan Limited, was taken at gunpoint.
Junaid’s younger brother, Yasir Hameed, was also forcibly disappeared just days later, on October 11, 2024, while staying at a relative’s house in Kalat. Yasir, who had previously been subjected to enforced disappearance, remains missing alongside Junaid.
Meanwhile, in Bhawani, the family of Israr Baloch, who was abducted a year ago, blocked the Karachi-Quetta-Makran Highway by burning tires, bringing traffic to a standstill. Negotiations between the protesters and district administration failed to resolve the matter.
In Kharan, protests continued in the Red Zone as families of missing Bilawal Baloch and Asim Baloch called for their release. Bilawal’s mother made an emotional plea, asking authorities to present her son in court if he is accused of any wrongdoing. She also urged residents of Kharan to join the protest in solidarity.
In Turbat, the family of Fida Wali Dad, a resident of Aapsar Kolowai Bazaar, staged a sit-in for the second consecutive day at Shaheed Fida Chowk. They were joined by relatives of eight other missing individuals, all demanding answers from the authorities about the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The protesters called on the government and the administration to disclose the location and condition of the missing persons. “If there are charges against them, let them be presented in court and tried under the law,” one family member stated.