Dead body of Baloch journalist Sajid Hussain, who went missing from Sweden, has been found. Mr. Hussain’s body has been recovered from a river in Upsalla.
According to Balochistan Times, “Sajid Hussain, the editor-in-chief of Balochistan Times, is no more. The Swedish police informed his family last night on (Thursday) that they had discovered his body from a river in Uppsala.”
Sajid Hussain Baloch was missing since 2nd March 2020 from Upsalla Sweden, where he had moved to a student accommodation.
According to Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB), “Mr Hussain was living in Stockholm and decided to move to a private student accommodation in Uppsala on 2nd of March because of his work and studies. After reaching Uppsala he remained in contact with his friends until 2pm, after that his phone went off and he was unable to be reached by his family and friends.”
Sajid Hussain Baloch, who had worked with various Pakistani mainstream media outlets, moved to Sweden in 2017 as a refugee.
While in Sweden he launched Balochistan Times, an online magazine, and was its Editor in Chief when he went missing.
On March 30 2020 the Committee to Protect Journalists urged Swedish authorities to ensure Sajid Hussain’s safety and locate the missing journalist.
“Swedish police should step up efforts to find Sajid Hussain Baloch and keep his family closely informed of any developments,” said Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator in the statement. “The disappearance of a journalist who focused on one of Pakistan’s most sensitive issues—human rights in Balochistan—and who escaped Pakistan because of threats he received, is especially concerning.”
Many journalists covering Balochistan have been targeted allegedly by Pakistani authorities, however, the disappearance and now death of a leading Baloch media figure in a European country has raised serious concerns.