Information Secretary of Baloch National Movement (BNM), Qazi Dad Mohammad Rehan, addressed a press conference shedding light on the Balgatar tragedy. The conference aimed to draw attention to the ongoing human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan, urging immediate international intervention.
During the press conference, it was revealed that three individuals from the same family, namely Adil son of Asa, Shah Jahan son of Asa, and Nabi Dad son of Liwari, lost their lives while in the custody of the Pakistani army. Additionally, Shaukat son of Lewari, Zaheer son of Lashkaran, Peerjan son of Lashkaran, and Ahmed Khan son of Shugarullah remain held by the Pakistan army.
Qazi Rehan expressed grave concerns regarding the lack of implementation of international human rights laws in Balochistan, despite promises of justice and freedom from the international community. He highlighted that Balochistan, along with Sindh, Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistani-occupied Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, faces severe civil rights violations and oppression within the state of Pakistan. Enforced disappearances, carried out under Pakistan’s military “kill and dump” policy, pose significant challenges. Disturbingly, mass graves have been discovered in Balochistan, where unidentified bodies are laid to rest without proper verification.
The press conference further emphasized the tragic incident in Balgatar, where three youths from the same family were brutally murdered. Qazi Rehan disclosed that these individuals were among the seven forcibly disappeared children from August 2023, who were in the custody of the Pakistan army. They were placed in a vehicle and subjected to an explosion, which left their bodies in fragments.
Qazi Rehan condemned attempts by the Pakistani media to portray these youths as supporters of the Pakistan army. He clarified that these children were from impoverished families, who forcibly disappeared after being apprehended by the Pakistan army.
Responsibility for these human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan was squarely placed on the Pakistan Army, operating under the guise of the Frontier Corps (FC) and death squads. Additionally, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the police was accused of facilitating these crimes.
International organizations were urged to take immediate action to curb enforced disappearances in Balochistan, and journalists were requested to focus their attention on the grave human rights situation in the region. Humanitarian aid was also requested to address the atrocities committed by Pakistan. Considering the historical ties between Balochistan and its neighbors, their responsibility was to extend support during these challenging times.
In summary, the press conference shed light on the dire situation in Balochistan, highlighted specific cases of enforced disappearances, and called for urgent action and support from the international community in addressing these widespread human rights violations.
