Protests Ignite in Balochistan Over Enforced Disappearances

Protests in Balochistan have erupted against enforced disappearances, with activists blaming Pakistani armed forces for abducting prominent figures. The family of Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch recently held a rally in Quetta, demanding his swift return, echoing widespread calls for justice and the cessation of such practices.

Protests have erupted across Balochistan in response to ongoing enforced disappearances, with Baloch communities accusing the Pakistani armed forces of abducting activists. Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch's family recently held a protest in Quetta, demanding his immediate release, according to the Balochistan Post.

The protest commenced at Balochistan University and proceeded through the city, culminating at the Quetta Press Club. The demonstration saw significant participation, with protesters holding photos of missing loved ones and chanting against enforced disappearances.

Addressing the crowd, Dr Baloch's sister, Bakhtawar Baloch, voiced her distress over her brother's disappearance. Dr Baloch, an Operating Theatre Assistant at Awaran District Hospital, was allegedly taken by state forces on June 1, 2024, with no information on his whereabouts for the past three months.

Bakhtawar urged authorities to either present Dr Baloch in court if accused of any crime or release him if innocent, appealing to the government to end their family's suffering. Other families of the disappeared, also demanding justice, criticized the government's financial compensation offer, emphasizing their fight for their loved ones' safe return rather than monetary relief.

As reported by the Balochistan Post, enforced disappearances during military operations have become a chronic issue in the region, with activists, students, political figures, and civilians often vanishing without legal due process, leaving families in agony over uncertain fates.

(With inputs from agencies.)