QUETTA: Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) Chairman Nasarullah Baloch has claimed the enforced disappearances of political workers and students were still continuing in Balochistan.

Addressing a press conference at a missing persons’ camp, along with VBMP Vice Chairman Mama Qadeer Baloch, he said women and children have been protesting in Awaran for the past five days against the disappearance of political activist Diljan. They are calling for his return and insist that if he is involved in any illegal activity, he should be presented in a court of law and given the opportunity to defend himself.

“If he [Diljan] is innocent, he should be immediately released, and his family should be relieved of the mental anguish caused by his disappearance,” Nasarullah Baloch said.

He said Diljan was forcibly disappeared on June 12 this year, after being illegally arrested in the Tirtaj Mazarabad area of Awaran district.

The family had protested against his disappearance in front of the DC Office in Awaran in October and staged a sit-in for the last five days. During this protest, Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Zahri and other officials assured the family that Diljan would return home within 10 days.

However, Mr Baloch regretted more than a month has passed, and the administration has yet to provide any information about Diljan’s whereabouts.

He also expressed concern over the approval of military operations in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2024