Chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), Nasrullah Baloch, has condemned the enforced disappearance of Sardar Yousaf Qalandrani and called for his immediate release.
In a statement, Nasrullah Baloch said the organization had received complaints that on July 17, personnel of security agencies, along with police, illegally detained Mir Yousaf Qalandrani, son of Sardar Ali Muhammad Qalandrani, Union Council Chairman of Tootak and head of the Qalandrani tribe, from Karachi and transferred him to an undisclosed location.
He recalled that in 2010, during a military operation in Tootak, security forces detained hundreds of people, including three brothers of Yousaf Qalandrani, who remain missing to this day.
Nasrullah Baloch stressed that the unlawful arrest and disappearance of Sardar Yousaf Qalandrani and others is not only a grave violation of human rights but also a blatant disregard for the Constitution of Pakistan, fundamental civil liberties and international humanitarian law.
Quoting Article 9 of the Constitution, he said every citizen is guaranteed the “right to life and liberty.” Similarly, Article 10 ensures that any detained individual must be informed of the reasons for arrest, presented before a court without delay and granted access to legal counsel. He added that enforced disappearances without legal justification or judicial approval are unconstitutional and in direct violation of criminal law.
He said that “Pakistan claims to be a democratic state and must respect human rights. Enforced disappearances not only erode public trust but also raise serious questions about the state’s judicial and constitutional institutions.
Nasrullah Baloch demanded the immediate recovery of Sardar Yousaf Qalandrani and all other missing persons, transparent legal action against those responsible and permanent measures to end enforced disappearances through comprehensive legislation in line with human rights principles.
He urged the judiciary, Human Rights Commission and parliamentary bodies to take notice and hold the perpetrators accountable.
