QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN: A peaceful protest demonstration was held outside the Quetta Press Club under the auspices of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), demanding the safe recovery of forcibly disappeared Asif Baloch along with other missing persons.
The protest saw large-scale participation from families of the forcibly disappeared, human rights activists, lawyers, students, political, social activists and people from various walks of life.
The demonstration was addressed by VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch, the sister of forcibly disappeared Asif Baloch, the brother of Shahid Kurd, the brother of Noor Muhammad Kurd, the sister of Zaheer Baloch and other speakers.
Speakers said that enforced disappearances constitute a serious violation of citizens’ basic human rights, adding that the forced disappearance of one individual subjects not only the affected person but their entire family to continuous mental anguish, uncertainty and suffering.
They said that the government had claimed earlier this year that the issue of enforced disappearances had been resolved since February, and that under the 2025 law on enforced disappearances, any detained individual would be presented before a magistrate within 24 hours, held at a designated detention center, and allowed family visits. However, speakers said the situation on the ground contradicts this claim, as the practice of forcibly disappearing individuals after detention continues unabated in Balochistan. They said numerous individuals are not being transferred to detention centers, while bodies of forcibly disappeared persons continue to be discovered on a near-daily basis.
Speakers urged the government to act on its commitments to end enforced disappearances, ensure the immediate recovery of all forcibly disappeared persons, and uphold the rule of law.
Participants demanded the immediate and safe recovery of Asif Baloch and all forcibly disappeared persons, saying that anyone facing charges of any nature should be presented before courts in accordance with the constitution and the law. They also called for an end to enforced disappearances and the extrajudicial killings of missing Baloch individuals, stressing that the fundamental human and constitutional rights of all citizens must be protected under all circumstances.
Addressing the demonstration, the sister of forcibly disappeared Asif Baloch said that her brother was forcibly disappeared on July 13 this year after being taken into custody by personnel of state institutions from Eman City, Quetta. She said that to date, he has neither been presented before any court nor has any information about him been provided to the family, leaving the entire family in severe mental distress and anguish.
She appealed to authorities to ensure Asif Baloch’s safe recovery immediately, saying that if he faces any charges, they should be disclosed in accordance with the law and he should be presented before a court so that legal requirements are met and the family’s uncertainty is brought to an end.
During the protest, VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch said that today marks 15 years since the enforced disappearance of Jameel Ahmed Sarparah, who was taken into custody by personnel of state institutions from Quetta. He said that to this day, his family continues to wait for his return. Nasrullah Baloch demanded that the recovery of Jameel Ahmed Sarparah be ensured immediately.
