October 5, 2023
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
The family of missing person Mumtaz Baloch, son of Muhammad Murad, a resident of Nokjo Mushke, are protesting against his disappearance for the third time without any reason.
Mumtaz’s niece Bandi Baloch says that her uncle was first reported missing in 2016 when he was picked up by security forces, and was then released after seven months.
He was again picked up in 2017 and released in January 2020. Now he has been picked again from Khuzdar for a third time on 6 September 2022 and is still missing, without trace.
“I would like to know why the courts are silent on this issue?” she asked. “The second time he was taken, he spent two years in the custody of state institutions but no evidence was found against him of any kind of involvement in any illegal activities. Once again, despite all the mental and physical torture, my maternal uncle was subjected to enforced disappearance once again in 2022, but again nothing could be proved against him. Then why is he being picked up repeatedly and on what basis?”
Bandi Baloch said that while an innocent citizen and his family was being repeatedly tortured by being subjected to enforced disappearance, the courts, media, and most human rights organizations were standing by and watching their helplessness silently.
As a result an online campaign began on October 3, for the recovery of Mumtaz Baloch, where several prominent people took part. She stressed that Mumtaz did not belong to any organization and had only just filled the form for his matric exams during which he went missing, not to mention that he missed giving his exams too.
The online campaign was launched on behalf of Baloch Voice for Justice. The campaign involved various political and social leaders, journalists, humanitarians. Rights activists took part and demanded the recovery of Mumtaz Baloch.
Former senator Farhatullah Babar, the central leader of PPP, said that the Baloch and others were disappearing day by day. Thousands went missing but to date not a single culprit had been brought to justice. He said it was also very alarming to hear the caretaker prime minister from Balochistan justifying the disappearances saying that people were also missing in Indian Kashmir.
Professor Nida Kirmani tweeted that Mumtaz Baloch had been missing for a year and his speedy and safe return must be demanded by citizens.
Bandi Baloch appealed to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Qazi Faiz Isa and said that he should take notice of the illegal enforced disappearance.
Journalist Veengas participating in the campaign said that caretaker Prime Minister Kakar can deny the statistics of enforced disappearances in Balochistan but could he deny that every day Baloch families ask the state about their family members.
Pashtun nationalist leader and former senator Afrasiab Khattak tweeted that the case of Mumtaz Baloch, who disappeared more than once without being presented in any court, reflects the ongoing lawlessness in Balochistan. He said that security agencies could ignore the judiciary as often as they wanted.
Others who participated included the convener of Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh, Surath Latif who spoke on behalf of Voice for Missing Persons, Sindh and demanded the release of Mumtaz Baloch.
میرے ماما ممتاز بلوچ کو ایک سال مکمل ہو گیا ہے کہ سی ٹی ڈی والوں نے لاپتہ کیا ہے۔ پہلے بھی خفیہ اداروں کے اہلکاروں نے میرے ماما ممتاز کو دو بار لاپتہ کیا تھا بعد میں اس کو بازیاب کیا تھا۔ اب یہ تیسری بار ہے سی ٹی ڈی والوں نے میرے ماما کو لاپتہ کیا ہے #ReleaseMumtazBaloch pic.twitter.com/S0iE5jWiA5
— Banadi baloch (@Banadi_baloch3) October 4, 2023
کیا حکومت بلوچستان یا وفاقی حکومت کا کوئی نمائندہ یہ بتا سکتا ہے کہ ممتاز بلوچ کو تیسری مرتبہ کیوں اٹھایا گیا ہے؟ الزام کی نوعیت ہی بتا دیں کیونکہ اگر ثبوت ہوتا تو اب تک اسے کسی عدالت سے سزا دلوائی جا چکی ہوتی @anwaar_kakar @JanAchakzaii @PakSarfrazbugti @VBMP5 https://t.co/KrczKiLqlc
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) October 3, 2023
Sami Deen Baloch, General Secretary of Baloch Voice for Missing Persons and daughter of missing Deen Muhammad Baloch, tweeted that our mothers and sisters should be freed from this coercive and collective torture and our loved ones should be rescued.
Baloch activist and leader of Baloch Voice for Justice Latif Baloch has written that a human tragedy has been born in Balochistan, thousands of people have been forcibly disappeared, human rights organizations have played an effective role in recovering all the missing persons including Mumtaz Baloch. do
Defense of Human Rights Chairperson Amna Masood Janjua and others participated in the campaign and demanded immediate and safe recovery of Mumtaz Baloch.
