London: Sorath Lohar, Convenor of the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh (VMPS), along with Sarang Sindhi, Representative of the Voice for Sindhi Missing Persons – Europe Chapter, has strongly condemned the enforced disappearance of Muhammad Bakhsh Sajedi, a retired Deputy Commissioner and the father of Dr. Naseem Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM).
In a joint statement, VMPS said it was deeply concerned over the disappearance of a senior citizen and former government officer. According to reports, Muhammad Bakhsh Sajedi was forcibly disappeared on 2 February from Hub, Balochistan. His brother Naeem Sajedi and Engineer Rafiq Baloch, former Chief Engineer of Sui Gas Balochistan, were also reportedly taken and disappeared at the same time.
The VMPS termed the incident inhuman and unlawful, stating that the detention of elderly individuals without any legal warrants, and the disappearance of multiple family members simultaneously, constitutes a serious violation of national and international laws. Such actions, the organization said, amount to enforced disappearance and collective punishment.
The statement noted that Balochistan has long suffered from thousands of enforced disappearance cases, and this incident further exposes the worsening human rights situation in the region. VMPS said these practices reflect the continued targeting and victimization of peaceful citizens.
VMPS further stated that Sindh is also facing a growing crisis of enforced disappearances, with many Sindhi political activists and civilians missing for years. Emphasizing solidarity, the organization said Sindhi and Baloch people stand together against enforced disappearances and state repression.
The Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh appealed to Amnesty International, the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), Human Rights Watch, the International Coalition Against Enforced Disappearances (ICAED), and other international human rights bodies to urgently intervene and ensure the immediate and safe recovery of all forcibly disappeared persons.
The statement concluded by stressing that enforced disappearances are crimes against humanity and must be immediately halted.
