A memorial reference was organized by the Baloch National Movement (BNM) on the passing of Mama Qadeer Baloch, Vice Chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP). BNM activists from the Shaheed Rashid Zone, Awaran, attended the event.
While addressing the gathering, the speakers paid rich tribute to the struggle and services of Mama Qadeer Baloch. They stated that Mama Qadeer never allowed the grave human rights issue of enforced disappearances to be forgotten and, through his tireless struggle, brought it to the attention of the world. By raising this issue internationally, he held the state of Pakistan accountable for enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
The condolence reference was addressed by Zonal President Ustad Mehran, former Secretary of BNM Mashkai Zone Amanullah Baloch, and member Ali Baloch. The proceedings were conducted by Zonal Finance Secretary Meerak Baloch.
Remembering Mama Qadeer, Zonal President Ustad Mehran said that Mama Qadeer Baloch was like a shining lamp in the Baloch homeland, whose light illuminated the entire world. He drew the attention of global human rights advocates toward Balochistan so that the world could witness the kind of oppression being inflicted on the Baloch nation by Pakistani forces and agencies.
He further stated that Mama Qadeer’s son, Jalil Reki, was forcibly disappeared by the Pakistan Army, after which Mama Qadeer launched a long and historic protest movement. He remained on what is considered the longest symbolic hunger strike in history. Hunger strikes are regarded worldwide as the voice of conscience, but Pakistani authorities continued to ignore this voice.
In his speech, Amanullah Baloch said that Mama Qadeer was a strong-nerved, courageous, and wise personality who faced countless hardships during his struggle. By raising his voice against his son’s enforced disappearance, he laid the foundation for a historic movement for the recovery of all enforced disappeared persons—a movement that continues with full force even after his passing.
He said that when the body of Mama Qadeer’s son was dumped, Mama Qadeer took his grandson with him to see the body. The child had a congenital heart defect . Despite people advising against it, he showed his son’s body to his grandson because he wanted future generations to remember the truth—that their father was killed during enforced disappearance. Mama Qadeer told his grandson, “This is your father’s body, who was killed in custody by Pakistan Army.”
The speakers said that Mama Qadeer was not only a symbol of resistance for the Baloch nation but also an exemplary and inspirational figure for human rights defenders across the world. His sacrifices and struggle will always remain a guiding light for oppressed nations.
