Missing doctor’s sister criticises Pakistan government over rise in enforced disappearances in Balochistan

The sister of a doctor who has been missing since June 1 this year has expressed deep concern, saying that her brother, a resident of Awaran Bedi, was working at the DHQ Hospital in Awaran before he/she went missing.

According to Balochwar News, a man named Dr Abdul Hai was “forcibly disappeared” and is said to have been subjected to abuse in detention centres for the past three months, and was being punished for crimes he/she did not commit.

his/her sister expressed disappointment that despite numerous conferences, social media campaigns and peaceful protests during this period, the government has yet to respond positively to their situation, which she finds extremely disappointing.

“My brother’s disappearance and the authorities’ lack of seriousness is tragic and painful,” he/she said. he/she warned the authorities that if decisive action was not taken regarding his/her brother’s enforced disappearance and if the current indifference continued, he/she would be forced to consider taking more drastic measures on behalf of the family.

Meanwhile, Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) said that Dil Jan’s forced disappearance has been reported to the organisation by his/her family. Dil Jan, son of Allah Baksh, was forcibly detained by the Pakistani army from his/her home in Mazarabad, Tirtej, Awaran on June 12 this year. The family has not received any information about his/her current location.

Besides, the family of another “enforced disappearance” person Din Muhammad Marri has shared details of his/her abduction with the VBMP. The family informed that Din Muhammad Marri, son of Murad Khan, was illegally detained from his/her house in New Kahan, Hazarganji, Quetta on August 24 this year and has been subjected to enforced disappearance since then.

Enforced disappearances are common in Balochistan and according to reports, more than 55,000 people are missing from various areas of the region. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and various political and social activists claim that these disappearances are carried out by the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies.