A protest rally was held today in Turbat, the main city of Kech district of Balochistan, in which a large number of women, children, and youth participated. Protest called by the family members against the non-recovery, non-appearance in court, and non-provision of fair trial of veteran Baloch independence leader Ustad Wahid Kambar Baloch.
The rally was attended by local citizens of Turbat, relatives of missing persons, family of Wahid Kambar, and leaders and activists of political organizations. The participants carried photographs of Wahid Kambar and other missing persons and raised slogans against enforced disappearances.
Wahid Kambar , known as a dynamic and respected figure in the Baloch independence movement, was abducted on July 19 from Kerman, Iran. His family and Baloch independence organizations allege that he was abducted and shifted to Pakistan by Pakistani agents and is now forcibly disappeared in the custody of Pakistani forces.
Mehlab Kambar Baloch, daughter of Wahid Kambar, spoke during the Turbat rally and said, “My father has been a part of the Baloch political struggle and has always spoken about Baloch rights. Pakistan has abducted him and imprisoned him illegally.”
She said, “We demand that he should be brought to the Court and given a chance for a fair trial.” Mehlab Kambar appealed to human rights organizations, especially the Red Cross, to intervene in the case and provide protection to the only political prisoner.
On this occasion, the participants of the protest demanded an end to forced disappearances and the immediate recovery of Ustad Wahid Kambar. They said that the state’s efforts to silencepro-independence figures through violence and pressure have worsened the situation.
Other relatives of the Enforcedly Disappeared persons present at the rally also raised demands for the Release of their loved ones and alleged that instead of delivering justice through the courts and commissions, the state narrative was being reinforced.
Speakers during the rally said that the state’s policies to suppress the ongoing movement in Balochistan have exacerbated the problem as state violence has led to people turning to armed groups, creating further unrest in the region.
Finally, the participants of the rally have demanded the release of Wahid Kimber and other Baloch political and non-political enforced disappearances and their immediate recovery.
