The growing tragedy of enforced disappearances in Balochistan is a matter of grave concern. Despite ample documented evidence, Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar appears oblivious to the gravity of the issue, consistently denying the facts and making frivolous statements regarding the burning problems in Balochistan.
Caretaker Prime Minister Kakar claimed that the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances in Balochistan has reported only fifty cases, which contradicts the information provided in the WGEID report. According to their findings for the period between May 13, 2022, and May 12, 2023, the UN agency sent 1,635 complaints of forced disappearances to the Pakistani government.
The Commission of Enforced Disappearances of Pakistan, meanwhile, has recorded a staggering 2,708 cases from Balochistan until August 31, 2023. Just during the Baloch Long March, hundreds of new cases of forcible disappearances have been registered. Presently, the families of over a hundred missing persons are engaged in an ongoing sit-in at the Islamabad Press Club.
Denying the facts and attributing blame to leaders of the Long March for the recovery of the enforced disappearances does not alleviate the seriousness of the problem. As long as the state continues its oppression in Balochistan, the Political movements against enforced disappearances will persist in various forms, highlighting the determination to address the underlying issues.
The conflicting statistics provided by civil and military establishments on enforced disappearances suggest a troubling reality. It appears that the state has adopted enforced disappearances as a policy, focusing its efforts on denial rather than resolution. This approach contributes to the problem evolving into a significant human tragedy, demanding urgent attention and comprehensive action.