Dilshad Baluch
In the vast and turbulent landscape of Balochistan, the plight of missing persons has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns for the Baloch nation. Allegations persist that Pakistani forces are involved in the abduction of Baloch individuals, who then mysteriously vanish for years, only to face grim fates in purported fake encounters orchestrated by state agencies.One poignant case that highlights this issue is that of Rashid Hussain, a Baloch political activist who sought refuge in Dubai in 2017. Fleeing the challenges faced by Baloch political workers in Pakistan, he worked as a laborer in a construction company. However, on December 26, 2018, Hussain was discreetly taken into custody near Sharjah, UAE, allegedly succumbing to Pakistani pressure. Despite spending six months in UAE detention, he was extradited to Pakistan in June 2019 via Interpol, a distressing event covered by prominent media outlets. Since then, Rashid has seemingly vanished from the public eye, and a chilling silence surrounds any information about his whereabouts or legal proceedings. His family, left in the dark, continues to yearn for answers, clinging to hope for his safe return. Despite tireless attempts to seek justice through legal channels, the family has encountered a disheartening lack of progress. The denial of involvement by Pakistani security agencies clashes with evidence, including media footage showing an unidentified individual being escorted from Karachi Airport, aligning with claims of Rashid’s forceful extradition.In a desperate bid for justice, Rashid Hussain’s family set up a token hunger strike camp in front of the National Press Club in Islamabad, demanding his safe release. Their resolve remains unbroken, vowing to continue the protest until their demands are met. Joined by families of other missing Baloch persons, such as Asif Baloch, Jahanzaib Baloch, Saeed Ahmed, and others, the protesters call for the safe release of their loved ones and to put an end to the policy of fake encounters perpetrated by state agencies. A tragic example further underscores their fears: Balach Baloch, abducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), faced a similar fate in a fake encounter, raising concerns among families that their loved ones might meet similar ends. The families, undeterred, continue to voice their grievances, organizing peaceful walks and maintaining a token hunger strike camp against enforced disappearances and fake encounters at the Islamabad Press Club. However, the struggle of these families is met with indifference from the Pakistani media and the state. Despite traveling from Balochistan to Islamabad, not a single representative has visited or acknowledged their plight. This lack of attention underscores what protesters decry as a nonchalant attitude from Pakistan towards the harrowing case of Baloch missing persons. Undeterred by the silence and neglect, the protesters remain resolute in their determination. They pledge to sustain their token hunger strike camp until their missing loved ones are released and until the Pakistani state brings an end to the policy of fake encounters of Baloch missing persons. The echoes of their cries for justice reverberate through the corridors of power, demanding accountability and a change in the treatment of Baloch missing persons.
