The crisis of enforced disappearances in Balochistan continues to cast a dark shadow over the region. Over the past two decades, these disappearances have targeted individuals from various walks of life, including students, activists, journalists, and politicians. This pervasive fear has left nearly every family in Balochistan bruised and terrified.
Thousands of children await the return of their missing fathers; individuals like Sammi Deen Baloch and Mehlab Deen Baloch have spent their youth in protest camps, campaigning for their fathers’ safe release, only to be met with silence. Others, like Dr. Mahrang Baloch, have grown up without the affection and guidance of their lost fathers.
Women across Balochistan live in agonizing uncertainty, not knowing if they are widows, unsure whether their husbands are alive or dead. They struggle to console their children, who remain in a state of perpetual grief caused by their father’s absence. The elderly have died hoping to see their missing sons one last time before their passing.
Even the Baloch community abroad, those who have fled state aggression and sought refuge in foreign lands, are not safe. Mysterious disappearances and deaths, such as those of Sajid Hussain in Sweden, Karima Baloch in Canada, and Saqib Karim in Azerbaijan, suggest that the reach of enforced disappearances extends far beyond Pakistan’s borders.
The Baloch community faces a grim reality: they are not safe in their homes, not in any part of Pakistan, and not even in countries that should offer sanctuary. Thousands have fallen victim to enforced disappearances, and the numbers continue to grow weekly. This biweekly report by The Balochistan Post provides a detailed account of those who have disappeared in Balochistan and beyond during the first two weeks of July 2024.
Key Findings:
- 19 individuals were forcibly disappeared in the past two weeks.
- 4 individuals were released and returned to the safety of their homes.
- 6 bodies were found.
- The average number of abductions for the first two weeks of July stood at 1.36 per day.
Most Affected Areas:
The following areas saw the highest number of enforced disappearances in Balochistan:
- Awaran: 4
- Dera Bugti: 4
- Kalat: 3
- Kech: 3
- Gwadar: 2
- Mastung: 2
- Khuzdar: 1
Details of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances:
- Saeed Baloch: Detained on July 1st in Khuzdar. Still missing.
- Abdullah Baloch: Detained on July 1st in Awaran. Still missing.
- Dawood Baloch: Detained on July 1st in Awaran. Still missing.
- Nasrullah: Detained on July 3rd in Awaran. Still missing.
- Saif Jan: Detained on July 3rd in Zamuran. Still missing.
- Ubaid: Detained from Kech on July 8. Later released.
- Naseem: Detained on July 8 in Kech. Still missing.
- Imdad: Detained on July 10 in Gwadar. Still missing.
- Abdul Rahim: Detained on July 10 in Kalat. Still missing.
- Samandar Khan: Detained on July 10 in Kalat. Still missing.
- Beebagr Mengal: Detained on July 10 in Kalat. Still missing.
- Waheed: Detained on July 11 in Dera Bugti. Still missing.
- Naseebullah: Detained on July 11 in Dera Bugti. Still missing.
- Alman: Detained on July 11 in Dera Bugti. Still missing.
- Adhya: Detained on July 11 in Dera Bugti. Still missing.
- Qadir Baksh: Detained on July 13 in Gwadar. Still missing.
- Zameer: Detained on July 14 in Awaran. Still missing.
- Hayat: Detained on July 1 in Turbat. Still missing.
- Liaqat: Detained on July 14 in Gwadar. Still missing.