The relatives of missing persons in Pak-occupied-Balochistan marked Eid al-Adha with protests and rallies, demanding the recovery of their loved ones and an end to the cycle of enforced disappearances.
Turbat Protest
In Turbat, the relatives continued their sit-in protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk and organized a rally on Eid al-Adha morning. Passing through various routes, the participants chanted slogans urging the recovery of missing persons.
Addressing the rally, Arif Baloch, the father of the missing Muslim Arif, said his son was picked up from his shop in Bolida Gali a year ago. “We have knocked on every door of justice but received nothing but empty assurances,” he said, demanding his son be presented in courts if guilty.
Other relatives, including the sister of Jahanzaib Fazal, the wife of Sameer Baloch, and the 70-year-old father of Fatah Murad, shared similar stories and appealed for the recovery of their loved ones.
The rally was attended by a large number of people, including members of student organizations and the Baloch Yakjehti Committee.
Quetta Demonstration
In Quetta, a protest rally and demonstration were held on the call of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons. Dozens of families participated, holding pictures of their missing loved ones.
The relatives brought Eid clothes and shoes of the forcibly disappeared persons, evoking emotions among the citizens.
The protesters demand their loved ones be brought before the public so they can celebrate Eid with their families instead of on the streets.
Chaman Sit-in
In the border town of Chaman, protesters observing a sit-in since October 21, 2023, against the imposition of passport and visa requirements offered Eid prayers at the protest site.
Thousands of citizens joined the protesters, expressing solidarity with the movement against the border restrictions that have impacted the livelihoods of millions in the region.
The protesters, including organizers Abdul Haleem Pahlawan and Faiz Mohammad, vowed to continue their protest despite the government’s use of force and tactics, demanding the immediate release of detainees and the abolition of the passport and visa requirements for cross-border movement.
Clashes and Arrests
Two weeks ago, clashes between the Chaman sit-in participants and Army personnel resulted in injuries to over 40 protesters and 18 personnel. Several individuals, including the protest leaders, were arrested.
While the occupied authority released around 40 protesters through a reconciliation committee’s efforts, many remain in custody. The situation in the city has since returned to normal, but mobile internet services remain suspended.
The sit-in participants had halted all trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan for four months during their nearly eight-month-long protest. In May, they staged another sit-in on the Quetta-Chaman highway to protest the alleged killings of two protesters, disrupting trade for a month.
As the protests continue, Pak Army face mounting pressure to address the grievances of the residents and stop the long-standing issues of enforced disappearances and border restrictions in Pak-occupied-Balochistan.