ISLAMABAD: The participants of a long march, who began their journey from Quetta on October 27 for the recovery of missing Baloch persons, may not reach Islamabad because of hurdles created by different elements.

Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights had decided to give warm welcome to the participants of the long march, but their wish seems not to be materialized as they (participants of the March) were stopped from entering Gujrat city, Dawn has learnt.

They have decided to spend their night a few kilometers away from Gujrat.

The relatives of the missing persons of Balochistan had made Islamabad their destination. Since then they have been traveling on foot.

Head of the march, Mama Qadeer while talking to Dawn said that for the last many days, the participants of the march have been facing threats from the law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

“We have decided to spend Monday night in Wazirabad at a residence of a person. At night some unknown persons gathered outside the house and started harassing us through different means,” he said.

“We could not sleep because the persons who gathered outside the house were talking about killing us. They made noises due to which all members got scared,” he said.

Mama Qadeer said on Tuesday the participants of the march started walking towards Gujrat. “We reached near Gujrat before sunset and were planning to stay in the city but suddenly police bus headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) blocked the road just before Chenab Bridge.

“Women police and commandos were also deployed. I asked the DSP that why he has stopped us but he replied that he has got the instructions from top management.

“After a long negotiation with the administration and the participants assurance that their march will remain peaceful, police allowed us to go ahead but till that time it was dark so we decided to stay out of the city,” he said. “I am also getting threatening phone calls,” he said.

“At the moment participants of the march include nine women, three children (7, 11 and 13 years old) and four males including me. If we would be allowed to continue march, we will reach Islamabad within next 10 days and will submit a memorandum to the United Nations,” he said.

Mama Qadeer has appealed to the civil society to raise voice for the rights of missing persons.

Chairman Voice of Missing Persons Nasrullah Baloch, who held a press conference in Islamabad last month in which he revealed the mass graves in Khuzdar while talking to Dawn said that he was also getting threatening messages.

“I appeal to the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice and ensure safety of the participants of the march,” he said.

“If something unpleasant happened to Mama Qadeer and his companions, the situation in Balochistan will definitely take a more violent turn. The unarmed civilians are holding a peaceful march for the rule of law,” he claimed.

Civil Society organisations and human rights activists demanded that Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory Police should provide security to the participants.