The protest camp by Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) outside Quetta Press Club against enforced disappearances continues uninterrupted. As of Sunday, the camp has completed 5,839 days — amounting to 15 years, 11 months, and 24 days. The camp is currently being led by VBMP Executive Committee member Niaz Nichari.
On Saturday, the mother of forcibly disappeared youth Nematullah Baloch visited the camp and demanded her son’s immediate recovery. Nematullah was forcibly disappeared from Quetta (Shal) on December 8, 2016. Over eight years and five months have passed, but his whereabouts remain unknown. His family has submitted petitions to various government bodies and the commission on enforced disappearances, yet they have not received justice.
VBMP has reiterated its demand for the immediate release of Nematullah Baloch and all other missing persons.
In a statement issued by the organization, VBMP expressed grave concern over the increasing trend of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, calling it a gross violation of human rights. The statement cited the recent killing of renowned journalist Abdul Latif Baloch in Mashkay, who was shot dead inside his home. His family has a history of being subjected to state violence. His brutal murder raises serious questions about the role of state institutions, which are being accused of violence and extrajudicial killings against unarmed civilians.
The statement further added that in the past two days alone, over 12 people have been forcibly disappeared, and the pace of such incidents is escalating. Arbitrary arrests and custodial killings have become commonplace in various regions of Balochistan. State institutions appear increasingly emboldened in their extrajudicial actions, while the judiciary continues to fail in delivering justice to the victims.
Those who raise their voices against these atrocities are also subjected to violence and collective punishment. A prominent example is young human rights activist Fatima Baloch, whose brother Aimal Baloch was forcibly disappeared. Despite her young age, Fatima has emerged as a powerful voice against enforced disappearances.
