With the passing of Mama Qadeer Baloch, Vice Chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, an era has come to an end. Fifteen years ago, Mama Qadeer and his comrades gave an institutional foundation to the peaceful struggle against the state policy of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings of political activists in Balochistan, initiating a long and historic movement against human rights violations. Mama Qadeer’s patient and resolute struggle kept alive the hope for the recovery of the forcibly disappeared even under harsh and unfavourable conditions, and transmitted practical resistance to the next generation, which continues today in the form of an organised movement.
When Mama Qadeer, Farzana Majeed, Nasrullah Baloch and their companions founded Voice for Baloch Missing Persons in 2009, state repression in Balochistan was at its peak. An endless series of enforced disappearances of political activists had begun, and Mama Qadeer’s son, Jalil Reki, was among the victims. Following these disappearances, extrajudicial killings and the dumping of mutilated bodies by roadsides, in deserted areas and forests began—practices that continue to this day in the form of fake encounters. On 24 November 2011, the bullet-riddled body of Mama Qadeer’s son, Jalil Reki, was recovered from the Mand area of Kech. After his son’s martyrdom, instead of abandoning the struggle, Mama Qadeer chose to become a source of hope for others and played a central role in organising the movement for the recovery of the forcibly disappeared.
Under the harsh conditions of Balochistan, Mama Qadeer and the families of the forcibly disappeared, despite state threats, repression and obstacles, undertook a historic two-thousand-kilometre long march on foot in 2013, from Quetta to Karachi and then to Islamabad. Through this peaceful resistance, they drew the world’s attention to the grave human rights crisis in Balochistan. This series of long marches, sit-ins and protests for justice spanned many years. The protest camp of the families of the forcibly disappeared outside the Quetta Press Club was repeatedly set on fire; Mama Qadeer received death threats; his home was attacked; and close relatives were subjected to enforced disappearance. Despite all this, Mama Qadeer never lost courage and, despite old age and illness, kept alive the hope of the recovery of the disappeared for fifteen years.
Mama Qadeer’s peaceful resistance, long marches and steadfastness will always be remembered in Baloch history. He remained unwavering in the struggle for justice and human rights until his last breath. His sacrifice, courage and patient struggle are exemplary. An entire generation has grown up in the shadow of Mama Qadeer’s struggle, and today they continue along the same path of resistance. With Mama Qadeer’s passing, a void will certainly be created in Balochistan’s political resistance movement; however, the standard-bearers of this struggle will carry his mission forward with renewed energy and determination.