Long march for Baloch missing persons begins

Published October 27, 2013
Protesters and long march participants holding slogans demanding the recovery of missing persons. -Photo by Syed Ali Shah
Protesters and long march participants holding slogans demanding the recovery of missing persons. -Photo by Syed Ali Shah
Protesters and long march participants holding slogans demanding the recovery of missing persons. -Photo by Syed Ali Shah
Protesters and long march participants holding slogans demanding the recovery of missing persons. -Photo by Syed Ali Shah

QUETTA: The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) launched a long march from Quetta to Karachi to press the authorities for recovery of missing Baloch political workers on Sunday evening.

Chairman VBMP, Nasrullah Baloch and Mama Qadeer Baloch led the long march participants from Quetta. Besides men, women and children were also part of the march in a frustrated attempt for recovery of their loved ones.

"Current rulers have intensified the kill and dump policy in Balochistan," Nasrullah Baloch told reporters prior to launching of the march.

Emotionally charged protesters carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans, "stop killing Baloch political workers" and "we condemn extra-judicial killings" during the long march.

"We want recovery of our loved ones," Baloch demanded. The VBMP claimed that intelligence agencies have picked up a large number of Baloch political workers to suppress their voice.

However, officials contradict the claims and assert that the number of missing persons was less as compared to the claims of VBMP.

"We have been protesting for the last five years for recovery of loved ones," Mama Qadeer Baloch lamented and complained that the authorities were not even implementing court orders.

Participants of the long march will be traveling during the day from Quetta to Karachi. Family members of missing persons from other districts would also join the long march on their way to Karachi.

Qadeer Baloch said under a pre-planned conspiracy mutilated dead bodies of Baloch missing political workers were being dumped in Sarjani town area of Karachi. He said scores of Baloch political workers have been picked up during present government.

Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr. Malik Baloch has repeatedly asserted that his government was committed to bring an end to recovery of mutilated dead bodies in the province.

Dr. Baloch has also announced to convene a multi-party conference to discuss ways and means to bring an end to prevailing unrest in Balochistan, plagued by an insurgency and growing sectarian attacks.

However, Baloch resistance groups have rejected talks with Dr. Baloch's government and termed it a conspiracy to damage the Baloch struggle.

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