The Baloch Protest: Why We March
“Upon arriving in Islamabad with 300 families, we realized that the state was neither ready to listen nor interested in addressing the issue of missing persons.”
enforced disappearances in Pakistan
The Long History of Enforced Disappearances in Balochistan
The human rights situation in Balochistan has once again come to the limelight in Pakistan. The protest camp established by the families of Baloch missing persons near the National Press Club in Islamabad has become a center of attention – both for supporters as well as violators of the rule of law and human rights. … Read more
Balochistan’s Long March Protest
Pakistan’s largest and poorest province, Balochistan has been the site of a long-running insurgency – and the heavy-handed response from the state has brought forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and impunity for security forces. In late November, the killing of four Baloch men in an alleged “fake encounter” touched off longstanding anger and anguish. Thousands of … Read more
Women Are Leading an Unprecedented Protest Movement in Balochistan
As the year 2023 draws to a close, it will be remembered as a year of resistance by women in the region – Afghanistan, Pakistan’s restive southwestern Balochistan province, and Iran – where women in large numbers have risen up to fight inequality, repression, and oppression. The people of Afghanistan, Balochistan, and Iran have embarked … Read more
In Balochistan, Families Demand Answers for Forced Disappearances
Balaach Mola Bakhsh was sleeping at his home when personnel from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) took him away on October 29. After 22 days, on November 20, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him by the CTD, claiming that Bakhsh had been caught in possession of explosives. He was presented in front … Read more
Anti-War Advocate Accused of Terrorism in Pakistan, Inspiring Global Protests
Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen, recognized for his iconic red hat and outspoken criticism of Pakistan’s powerful military for inciting violence and instilling fear in the Pashtun lands, went missing on December 4. In the volatile Pashtun belt straddling the Durand Line – a 1,660-mile 19th-century separation between Afghanistan and Pakistan stretching from China to Iran – … Read more