In a heartfelt condemnation, Jamal Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist and media coordinator of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), spoke out against the deceptive narrative propagated by Pak media regarding enforced disappearances in the country.
In a video message shared on social media platform X, Jamal Baloch expressed his dismay over the Pakistan media’s attempt to downplay the gravity of enforced disappearances faced by the Baloch community. He emphasized that the media campaign aimed to portray the issue as fabricated, citing the case of Karim Jan Baloch as a prime example.
Karim Jan Baloch, abducted by Pakistan intelligence agencies on May 23, 2022, endured two months of disappearance before being falsely accused of possessing explosives by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on July 31, 2022. However, due to lack of evidence, Karim Jan was acquitted of all charges by the court and released on August 17, 2022.
Jamal Baloch
Jamal Baloch urged Pakistan journalists to uphold journalistic integrity and stand by the truth, emphasizing the seriousness of the enforced disappearance issue in Pak-occupied-Balochistan. “The issue of enforced disappearance in Balochistan is very severe today, and it is important that the media today become the voice of the oppressed and not become a toy in the hands of the Pakistan Army. Journalists need to find actual evidence and investigate to unearth the issue of enforced disappearances,” he said.
Jamal, who has been a victim of enforced disappearances himself, further said that “the victims of enforced disappearances struggle everyday. We cannot even imagine what the families of these people go through. These families often come out on the roads and protest to get their loved ones back.” Moreover, he added, “They sometimes even beg the Army to either return them or bring them to court. But more often than not these protestors and family members are beaten, suppressed, forced, and even arrested to give up their protest. Media must stop the manipulation of this matter and bring the pieces of evidence to light for resolving this matter.
Since the forceful occupation of Balochistan on March 27, 1948, the Pakistan Army has consistently subjected Baloch communities to violence and atrocities.