Quetta: The world’s longest-running peaceful protest camp, organized by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) against enforced disappearances in Balochistan, entered its 6,040th day on Sunday outside the Quetta Press Club.
Families of forcibly disappeared persons Lal Muhammad Marri and Kaleemullah Marri participated in the protest camp, recording their protest and sharing details of their cases with the VBMP.
According to the families, in 2015 security forces conducted a search operation in the Nigaho area of Balochistan, during which local residents were detained for three days. On the third day, Lal Muhammad Marri, son of Agha Jan alias Pal Khan, and Kaleemullah Marri, son of Syed Khan, were taken away by helicopter. Since then, their whereabouts remain unknown.
The families said they approached various government and non-government institutions for the recovery of their loved ones, but neither Lal Muhammad Marri nor Kaleemullah Marri has been recovered, nor has any information about their safety been provided. They added that the prolonged uncertainty and lack of information have caused severe mental distress and suffering, leaving their lives paralyzed.
Speaking on the occasion, VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch expressed solidarity with the families and assured them that the cases of Lal Muhammad Marri and Kaleemullah Marri would be submitted to the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances and the provincial government. He said the organization would continue to raise its voice for their safe recovery at every forum.
Nasrullah Baloch urged the government to fulfill its responsibilities by taking immediate and concrete steps to ensure the safe recovery of Lal Muhammad Marri and Kaleemullah Marri, so that the affected families can be relieved of years of anguish and uncertainty.
