QUETTA: The Baloch National Movement (BNM), in collaboration with its human rights wing Paank, held a virtual commemoration on Saturday evening to mark the ninth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Shabeer Baloch, a prominent Baloch student leader who was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces.
The event, hosted on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces, brought together political leaders, human rights advocates, and family members of the disappeared to remember Shabeer’s legacy and renew calls for justice.
Among the speakers were BNM Secretary General Dil Murad Baloch, BNM Central Committee member Riaz Baloch, human rights activist Dr. Nazer Noor Baloch, Paank organizer Jamal Baloch, Seema Baloch, Shabeer’s sister and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Sammi Deen Baloch, daughter of the disappeared physician Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch.
Dil Murad Baloch described Shabeer as a “Leader of Extraordinary Courage,” recalling his rise within the student movement. “Despite his small stature, Shabeer carried a giant’s resolve,” he said. “In a short time, he became the head of a student organization, inspiring countless youth. His sister, Seema, now continues his struggle, standing fearlessly against oppression.”
Sammi Deen Baloch emphasized that Seema’s activism symbolizes a broader struggle. “Her fight is not only for her brother but for every disappeared person in Balochistan. Families must not remain silent, they must demand the return of their loved ones,” she urged.
Speaking with deep emotion, Seema Baloch remembered her brother’s determination and sacrifice:
“Shabeer took responsibility for his family and his nation when he was still young. He told us this path would bring pain and disappearances, but there would be no turning back. I will continue to fight for his release and for every victim of enforced disappearance. As long as I live, I will not stop.”
Jamal Baloch, representing Paank, condemned ongoing intimidation tactics by the state. “Authorities try to isolate and silence us by claiming the disappeared have no support,” he said. “But history shows the Baloch people cannot be broken. Even after years of imprisonment, our spirit endures. State propaganda cannot crush our resolve.”
The virtual vigil concluded with a collective call for continued resistance and solidarity, reaffirming Shabeer Baloch’s enduring legacy as a symbol of courage in Balochistan’s struggle for justice and human rights.
