Rahmatullah Baloch, a well-known activist and elderly resident of Quetta, has reportedly been forcibly disappeared. The incident occurred late last night when Pak forces raided a house in the suburban area of Nawakali, Quetta, taking Baloch into custody and transferring him to an unknown location.

Rahmatullah, a prominent figure in recent protest movements, had been actively participating in a sit-in organized by the Baloch Yahkjehti Committee and the family of Zaheer Baloch. Baloch played a crucial role in arranging food and water for the demonstrators, including women, children, and fellow elderly participants.

The disappearance has sparked outrage demanding the immediate and safe release of Rahmatullah Baloch. This incident is part of a broader pattern of human rights violations.

Reportedly, Baloch had gained attention during recent protests when a video of him went viral on social media. The video reportedly showed police subjecting protesters to violence, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the demonstrations.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee has called for unity in the face of this latest disappearance. The entire Baloch nation must speak for the safe release of peaceful activists like Comrade Rahmatullah.

Human rights activists have raised alarm over a recent spike in enforced disappearances in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan, with five new cases reported in the districts of Kech and Kharan over the past week.

The victims include:

1. – Siraj Ahmed, son of Shafi Muhammad, detained by the Pak Army-backed operatives on July 14, 2024, in the Nudaz area of Turbat, Kech district.
   
2. – Ziaullah, son of Fazal Muhammad Chanal, reportedly taken by Pak security forces from Kubdani street in Kharan city on July 15, 2024.
   
3. – Mukhtiar Ahmed, son of Abdul Hameed Mengal, detained by law enforcement agencies in the Sarawan area of Kharan district on July 15, 2024.
   
4. – Hafeezullah, also a son of Fazal Muhammad Chanal, reportedly disappeared from the same location as his brother Ziaullah on July 15, 2024.
   
5. – Manzoor Ahmed, son of Atis Yalanzal, taken by Pak security forces from Kubdani street in Kharan city on July 18, 2024.

These incidents are part of persistent pattern of enforced disappearances in the region. Such tactics have been employed by the Pak Army since 1948 when it took control of the area.

While the region’s natural resources have been exploited, the local population faces ongoing human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, marginalization, and extrajudicial killings.

The recent cases have renewed calls for transparency and accountability from both local and international human rights organizations. Demands for the immediate release of these individuals and an end to the practice of enforced disappearances are echoing in the form of protests and sit-ins.

Dr. Naseem Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), has arrived in the United Kingdom for a significant diplomatic tour aimed at raising international awareness about the Baloch national movement and human rights violations in Pak-occupied-Balochistan.

The visit, which began this week, includes a packed schedule of meetings with British parliamentarians, BNM officials, and representatives of other minority groups. Dr. Baloch plans to use these engagements to shed light on the political and economic challenges faced by the Baloch people.

“Our goal is to bring the struggles of the Baloch nation to the forefront of international discourse,” Dr. Baloch said in a press release. “We aim to foster understanding and support for our cause among British lawmakers and the wider public.”

Key items on the chairman’s agenda include discussions on human rights violations in POB and the ongoing campaign for greater political and economic rights. Dr. Baloch is expected to provide detailed briefings on these issues during his meetings with UK Parliament members.

The tour also encompasses internal party matters. Dr. Baloch will chair a council meeting of the BNM’s UK chapter and visit local units, moves aimed at strengthening the organization’s structure and cohesion.

In addition to political engagements, the BNM leader will meet with members of the Baloch diaspora community in the UK. These meetings are intended to maintain connections with expatriates and update them on the movement’s progress.

Notably, Dr. Baloch’s itinerary includes meetings with representatives of other groups that the BNM considers to be engaged in similar struggles for rights and recognition. These talks are seen as an effort to build solidarity among various movements.

The tour has generated interest for the Baloch cause, such as abductions and indiscriminate killings, the tactics employed by the Army in the region since 1948, when it forcefully captured it. The area’s resources have been exploited, while the local population faces human rights abuses. Enforced disappearances, marginalization, and extrajudicial killings are used as means of control over the Baloch community.