Tump (Balochistan), February 13: Pakistani military helicopters have been hovering over the Tump neighborhood in the Kech district of Balochistan since Friday night, amid reports of four individuals forcibly disappearing. According to The Balochistan Post (TBP), the four individuals were reportedly arrested by Pakistani security forces after an attack on Pakistani forces between Tuesday and Wednesday night. These individuals were subsequently taken to an undisclosed location, while the helicopters continue to operate in the area.
The missing persons have been identified as Ibrahim, son of Ali, Farooq, son of Abdul Hameed, Ilyas, son of Abdul Hameed, and Faris, son of Muhammad Karim. All four hail from Dazin, a town in Tump. Notably, Ilyas and Farooq had previously been forcibly abducted and later released.
The situation has intensified as a heavy contingent of Pakistani forces is reportedly advancing into Tump, while the military helicopters persist in patrolling the skies above the area.
Protests Against Enforced Disappearances and Extrajudicial Killings
In response to the recent forced disappearances, protests have erupted across Balochistan, calling for an end to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the abduction of Baloch women. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has planned rallies around the region, and nonviolent protests have been staged by Baloch students in Islamabad and Uthal.
During shutter-down strikes, businesses in cities like Kalat and Mastung remained closed in solidarity with the families of the missing. Protesters have demanded international intervention, calling on the UN and human rights organizations to hold Pakistani leaders accountable for their actions.
A protest march organized by the BYC in Quetta attracted the families of missing persons. Protesters held up images of their loved ones and chanted anti-enforced disappearance slogans, urging international bodies to take notice of the situation.
Balochistan’s Ongoing Struggle
The BYC has accused the Pakistani government of oppressing Baloch intellectuals, students, and youth through enforced disappearances and targeted killings. In a show of solidarity, residents, activists, and families of missing individuals gathered at Turbat’s Shaheed Fida Chowk on Sunday for a three-day protest camp. The protesters continue to call for justice and an end to the oppressive measures imposed on the Baloch people by the Pakistani government.