The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) has strongly refuted allegations made by the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) regarding the inclusion of Wadood Satakzai and Karim Jan in the list of missing persons.
The DG ISPR recently claimed in a press briefing that certain individuals, listed as missing, were either living abroad or had been killed during attacks on security forces. He specifically mentioned that Wadood Satakzai and Karim Jan, killed in Mach and Gwadar respectively, were listed as missing persons.
In a press conference, VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch and Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch categorically rejected these allegations.
“The DG ISPR’s claim that individuals such as Wadood Satakzai and Karim Jan are on the list of missing persons is incorrect,” said Nasrullah Baloch. “We have a moral obligation to challenge these false allegations with evidence.”
“Wadood Satakzai was a victim of enforced disappearance on August 12, 2022, and was recovered on February 9, 2023. His recovery was confirmed by VBMP and his family. After his recovery, no one claimed he was still missing, and his name was not on any missing persons list,” he explained. “As for how Wadood joined the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) after his recovery, we have no information.”
Regarding Karim Jan, VBMP leaders stated he was forcibly disappeared on May 23, 2022, and was later shown to be arrested on July 31, 2022, by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on charges of possessing explosives. “Due to clear evidence of his forced disappearance, the court acquitted him of all charges on August 17, 2022. After his release, neither his family nor any organization claimed he was still missing, nor was his name on the list of missing persons.”
The VBMP leaders also addressed the DG ISPR’s claim about individuals living abroad being included in the missing persons list. “We reject this allegation. No individual living abroad or involved in armed activities against the state is listed as missing,” they emphasized.
They cited the case mentioned by Pakistani journalist Saleem Safi during an interview with Sarfaraz Bangulzai, who stated that many such people are residing in Afghanistan and are listed as missing. When questioned to name someone who is in Afghanistan and listed as missing, Sarfaraz Bangulzai mentioned Safeer Baloch, but the reality is that no one has claimed Safeer Baloch is missing, nor is his name on the list of missing persons; rather, it is his brother Jameel Sarparah who is missing.
VBMP leaders drew attention to the historical context of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, referencing the case of Asadullah Mengal, the first reported victim in 1976. They noted that Prime Minister Zulfikar Bhutto had documented in his book the misleading information provided to him by intelligence agencies about Mengal’s whereabouts.
“Even after fifty years, state institutions continue to propagate false narratives that missing persons have fled abroad or joined militant organizations,” said Nasrullah Baloch. “Recent statements by the Balochistan and federal governments echo this rhetoric, showing a lack of seriousness in addressing enforced disappearances and instead exacerbating the issue through negative propaganda.”
VBMP leaders warned that such propaganda could lead to increased use of force in Balochistan, resulting in more enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. They urged the provincial and federal governments, as well as “powerful institutions,” to resolve the issue politically and legally.
“We call for an end to the use of force in Balochistan and urge practical steps to address the issue of missing persons,” they concluded. “Those accused of wrongdoing should be brought to court and prosecuted through legal means. The practice of killing missing persons in fake encounters must stop, and the issue of enforced disappearances should be resolved according to the laws of the country.”