QUETTA: Families of missing persons held a protest in front of Quetta press club on Sunday to demand recovery of their missing loved ones. The day marked as completion of 11 years of the enforced disappearance of Dr. Deen Muhammad Baluch, who went missing from Khuzdar in 2009.
Justice Javeed Iqbal, Ex-Chairman of Commission for Missing Person (currently serving as chairman NAB) had assured Deen Muhammad’s daughter that her father would be released within ten days.
“But it has been more than a decade and we are still waiting for that days,” she told Naya Daur.
Sammi Baluch, daughter of Deen Muhammad Baluch, along with other activists marched 3000km from Quetta to Islamabad to call for the safe release of her father and other missing persons. “Even the nails of our feet dropped on the way in the anticipation of our beloved, yet no one bothered to hear our grievances,” she lamented.
“I knocked on the door of each institution, including Supreme Court and Human Rights organisations, but I was always turned back with only empty promises,” Sammi added.
With a quivering voice and teary eyes, she further narrated that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) refused to issue her a CNIC, due to the expired CNIC of her father. She said that if her father is involved in any illegal activity, then he must be presented to the court and should be punished as per the law of the land but his abduction is illegal.
Sammi added that eleven years of struggle, pain and agony they faced cannot be expressed in words. "We, the other three family members are facing serious psychological trauma. We are unable to bear it anymore, and we just want to know if he is alive or dead."
Families of others missing persons had also participated in the protest, including women, children and aged people, carrying portraits. The atmosphere was filled with sorrow as the aggrieved family members remembered their missing loved ones.
Hasibha Qabrani, sister of the detained activist Hasan Qambarni, whose video went viral on social media, says that we do not wish to stay on the roads. “It’s injustice and the treatment meted to us that has made us familiar with press clubs,” she said.
Chairman Voice for Missing Persons Nasir Ullah Baluch, said that the protestors are demanding justice as per the law and constitution of the country. “They are also saying that if their relatives are indeed involved in any crimes against the state, they must be punished and present in the court as per the law.”
He said that the issue of missing persons was escalating, and added that it would give rise to resentment if grievances of the protestors are not addressed. "Our protest for the release of our missing person is peaceful," he said.
Families of missing persons also questioned the role of mainstream media and asked why their miseries, pain, and tears do not attract the attention of mainstream media.
Justice Javeed Iqbal, Ex-Chairman of Commission for Missing Person (currently serving as chairman NAB) had assured Deen Muhammad’s daughter that her father would be released within ten days.
“But it has been more than a decade and we are still waiting for that days,” she told Naya Daur.
Sammi Baluch, daughter of Deen Muhammad Baluch, along with other activists marched 3000km from Quetta to Islamabad to call for the safe release of her father and other missing persons. “Even the nails of our feet dropped on the way in the anticipation of our beloved, yet no one bothered to hear our grievances,” she lamented.
“I knocked on the door of each institution, including Supreme Court and Human Rights organisations, but I was always turned back with only empty promises,” Sammi added.
With a quivering voice and teary eyes, she further narrated that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) refused to issue her a CNIC, due to the expired CNIC of her father. She said that if her father is involved in any illegal activity, then he must be presented to the court and should be punished as per the law of the land but his abduction is illegal.
Sammi added that eleven years of struggle, pain and agony they faced cannot be expressed in words. "We, the other three family members are facing serious psychological trauma. We are unable to bear it anymore, and we just want to know if he is alive or dead."
Families of others missing persons had also participated in the protest, including women, children and aged people, carrying portraits. The atmosphere was filled with sorrow as the aggrieved family members remembered their missing loved ones.
Hasibha Qabrani, sister of the detained activist Hasan Qambarni, whose video went viral on social media, says that we do not wish to stay on the roads. “It’s injustice and the treatment meted to us that has made us familiar with press clubs,” she said.
Chairman Voice for Missing Persons Nasir Ullah Baluch, said that the protestors are demanding justice as per the law and constitution of the country. “They are also saying that if their relatives are indeed involved in any crimes against the state, they must be punished and present in the court as per the law.”
He said that the issue of missing persons was escalating, and added that it would give rise to resentment if grievances of the protestors are not addressed. "Our protest for the release of our missing person is peaceful," he said.
Families of missing persons also questioned the role of mainstream media and asked why their miseries, pain, and tears do not attract the attention of mainstream media.