Balochistan: Sister of Missing Person Demands Immediate Release of Brother and Cousin

Quetta:Nasida Baloch, the sister of forcibly disappeared Saqeer Ahmed, has demanded the immediate release and presentation of her brother and cousin Iqrar, who were taken into custody by authorities on the night of June 11 from the Ormara check-post. Despite the passage of 19 days, Nasida Baloch stated that there has been no information regarding their whereabouts, condition, or the police station where they are being held.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday at a protest camp organized by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, led by Chairman Nasrullah Baloch and Mama Qadeer, Nasida revealed that her brother Saqeer had previously gone missing on November 20, 2017, while on his way to Karachi for an exam. He was held for over a year before being released, having endured severe torture and inhumane treatment during his captivity. She called for Saqeer and Iqrar to be presented before the court to answer any charges and to allow them legal representation.

Nasida expressed her deep concern over the lack of transparency in the case, stating that despite their detention, no information has been provided regarding their charges or legal status. “This is not just the story of two individuals; it represents the collective anguish of thousands of families in Balochistan,” she said. “Every day, young men are abducted, forcibly disappeared, and their mutilated bodies are later dumped in the mountains, on roadsides, or in the deserts.”

She also raised concerns about the justice system, questioning how the law can function in a place where there is no accountability and where educated youth are seen as suspects. “My brother Saqeer was an educated man, having completed his master’s degree from the University of Sargodha after studying at Karachi University. He returned to our native town of Awaran to serve his community, but when he couldn’t find a job, he moved to Turbat and worked with his cousin Iqrar at an oil depot,” Nasida continued. “He was taken into custody while traveling from Turbat to Karachi.”

Nasida demanded that if her brother and cousin have committed any crime, they should be presented in a court of law, where they can receive legal assistance to defend themselves. “Iqrar is suffering from kidney disease and requires medical treatment. I urge the authorities to release both Saqeer and Iqrar immediately,” she appealed.

She called upon human rights organizations, international bodies, media, civil society, and the judiciary to play their role in ensuring the safe return of the two men, addressing the deep concerns of their family members. “We need justice, transparency, and an end to these enforced disappearances,” Nasida concluded.