Balochistan group rallies against forced disappearances: ‘We are all prisoners’
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has taken a stand against alleged enforced disappearances and state repression in Balochistan, declaring that the entire population is effectively living under siege. The committee has organized a mass public seminar to protest these injustices, calling on citizens to mobilize against decades of systemic violence and injustice.
The gathering is set to take place on Sunday at 4.30 pm at Shaheed Fida Chowk in Turbat. Residents from Turbat, Dasht, Gwadar, and surrounding areas have been urged to join in large numbers to raise a united voice against ongoing injustices.
“We are losing our youth and companions every day, as they are thrown into dungeons and prison cells far from their homeland. The pain and suffering of Baloch youth and the forced disappearances have become ingrained in our collective memory,” BYC expressed on X.
The BYC emphasized the importance of unity and collective action, reminding the Baloch people that “history always favors resistance.” They encouraged the community to come together for their safety, dignity, and justice on their own land.
The issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan has drawn condemnation from local and international human rights organizations, yet the violence continues largely unabated. Families of the missing individuals persist in their protests for justice, despite facing intimidation, according to ANI.
These disappearances are just one aspect of a broader pattern of systematic repression, which includes military operations in civilian areas, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and harassment of journalists. Entire families have been torn apart, with many women and children leading lengthy protest marches, hunger strikes, and sit-ins demanding the safe return of their loved ones.
In a historic move in December 2023, a group of Baloch women led a march from Balochistan province to Islamabad, spanning over 1,600 kilometers. This marked the first time women had taken the forefront in such a public demonstration in Pakistan, a remarkable act in a predominantly conservative society.
