Protests broke out across Balochistan on Wednesday, as students, families of missing persons, and local residents took to the streets, demanding an end to alleged enforced disappearances and condemning extrajudicial killings.
Students Protest in Turbat Over Enforced Disappearances
Students at Law College Turbat in Kech staged a protest on Wednesday against the alleged enforced disappearance of Kamil Sharif and Ehsan Sarwar Baloch. Carrying banners and placards, they marched through the college premises, demanding the safe return of both missing students.
Protesters gathered outside the administration block, calling for immediate action and accusing Pakistani authorities of “unconstitutional and illegal acts” by subjecting Baloch students to prolonged detention.
“Where are our basic rights? We will continue to raise our voices against this unconstitutional practice,”said one student protester.
According to local sources, Kamil Sharif and his relative Ehsan Sarwar went missing on 4 February after traveling to Turbat city from their school for personal work.
Kamil is the son of Sharif Zakir, a prominent social figure and director of Sachan School, who was shot and injured last week in Malikabad. He is currently under treatment in Karachi.
HUB: Protesters Block Highway Demanding Release of Israr Baloch
Family members of Israr Allah, missing since 3 December 2023, held a protest near Gadani Mor on the Quetta-Karachi highway, halting traffic and demanding his recovery. It is the fifth protest they have organized, following four previous demonstrations that they say yielded no results.
Protesters accused the local administration and political figures of “false negotiations” and “empty promises.” They claim authorities instructed them to display the Pakistani flag during a prior demonstration, promising that Israr would be released, yet no progress has been made.
“We will keep the highway blocked until Israr is released,” a family member said.
Mastung: Family Claims Zahoor Ahmed Sumalani Forcibly Taken by Pakistani Forces
In Mastung, Mir Ahmed Chiltanwal Sumalani accused Pakistani Forces of forcibly taking his younger brother, Zahoor Ahmed Sumalani, at the Sinjidi FC checkpoint in Kaanak on Wednesday at 2 PM.
He claimed that two weeks earlier, CTD and intelligence agencies raided his residence—Chiltanwal House—and the entire village of Umarabad Kaanak, allegedly detaining two of his cousins who were later found dead.
Mir Ahmed said Zahoor Ahmed had been forcibly taken once before and detained for four years, only to be released without charges.
“If my brother is not freed safely, I will call for widespread protests and indefinite road blockades across Balochistan,” he warned.
Quetta: 5,735th Day of VBMP Protest Against Enforced Disappearances
The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) continued its protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club for the 5,735th consecutive day. Members of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO), including Secretary-General Samand Baloch and Zonal President Kabeer Baloch, visited the camp to show solidarity.
VBMP Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch said his group is demanding the safe recovery of missing persons and justice for victims of extrajudicial killings.
“February has been one of the worst months for human rights in Balochistan, with over 60 enforced disappearances and three extrajudicial killings reported,” he told delegations visiting the camp.
Mama Qadeer criticized the government’s response, saying that despite years of protests and advocacy, “the situation in Balochistan continues to deteriorate,” and official policies remain unsatisfactory in addressing the missing persons’ crisis.