Baloch activist announces social media campaign demanding safe return of victims of enforced disappearance

Sadaf Amir Baloch, daughter of enforced disappearance activist Amir Bakhsh Baloch, announced the launch of a social media campaign demanding the safe release of victims of enforced disappearances.

In a video statement released on Thursday, he/she said Baloch rights organisation, Baloch Voice for Justice, will launch a campaign demanding the safe return of Salman, Asif and Rasheed, who are among the forcibly disappeared Baloch persons.

Sadaf Amir Baloch, a youth activist, also highlighted that Pakistan’s national media is boycotting and sidelining a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

In a post on X, Sadaf Amir Baloch also announced the launch of a social media campaign demanding the safe release of social activists Salman, Asif and Rasheed.

Sadaf, who herself has been a victim of enforced disappearance, said that her father was forcibly disappeared from Kulanch by Pakistani forces on August 4, and the mainstream media never addressed it.

Baloch Voice for Justice will launch a campaign on May 24 for the recovery of Salman Asif and Rasheed. I appeal to all friends to participate in this campaign and hashtag #ReleaseSalmanAsifRasheed Use .
Date: May 24, 2024
Timings: 7 am to 12 noon pic.twitter.com/AAqXovDJiC

– Sadaf Ameer Baloch (@sadafAmeerBaloc) 23 May 2024

Sadaf said, “Pakistan’s mainstream media blacked out the issue of enforced disappearances in the country. Presently, not only Balochistan but the entire country is suffering from the same problem of enforced disappearances. Thousands of people have gone missing and their whereabouts are unknown, but the mainstream media and MPs are not at all concerned about this issue. If an MP loses his/her purse, the entire system is activated for him/her. But the serious issue of enforced disappearance has always been treated as nothing more than a joke.

Sadaf further said, “I and my family have been repeatedly raising our voice for the safe return of my father Amir Baksh but no one gives any importance to our demands. The issue of enforced disappearance is a humanitarian issue, and it particularly affects the Baloch community of Balochistan. Every household in Balochistan is suffering from the same problem of forced disappearance.

Sadaf also mentioned the suffering of other families, saying, “Two girls of my age, Saira and Saadia, are also suffering as three of their family members have been forcibly disappeared. Rashid and Asif are missing for the last six years and Salman is being forcibly disappeared for one and a half years, but the administration is wasting time and no serious action is being taken on this matter.

he/she further demanded that the general public should come together and participate in helping the families of the victims of enforced disappearance.