ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – As the chill of a January evening descends on Pakistan’s capital, nearly 400 members of the Baloch community huddle in a protest camp outside the National Press Club. This demonstration has persisted for weeks, with the protesters braving the cold to demand justice for the extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances prevalent in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
Among the protesters is Najma Mola Baksh, who has traveled over 1,500km from her hometown of Turbat city in Balochistan. She stands in solidarity with the demonstrators, seeking justice for her younger brother, Balaach Mola Baksh, who was murdered at the age of 20.
Balaach was allegedly abducted from his home in Turbat by unidentified men and later found dead while in custody. The provincial Counter Terrorist Department claimed he had confessed to terrorist activities, but his family disputes this and alleges it was another extrajudicial killing in a province known for its long history of marginalization and separatist movements.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populous province, has been the center of a separatist movement since it was annexed by Pakistan in 1948. The province’s natural resources, including oil, coal, gold, and gas reserves, have become a point of contention, with the Baloch community asserting that their people have been neglected and exploited while their land has been used to generate substantial revenue for the federal government.
Yet, the government’s response to the separatist movement has been met with a violent crackdown, resulting in the disappearance and deaths of thousands of ethnic Baloch. Baloch activists have been vocal about the need for justice in the face of what they describe as a “kill and dump policy”, prompting demonstrations and calls for a UN fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations by security forces.
The protesters in Islamabad are skeptical of government action and have presented a list of demands, including the disbandment of state-supported “death squads” and a definitive answer on the status of their missing loved ones. With a caretaker government in place ahead of national elections, the future of the Baloch community’s demands remains uncertain.
The Baloch protests in Islamabad serve as a reminder of the enduring struggle for justice and autonomy within Balochistan, shedding light on the unresolved conflict and grievances that continue to affect the lives of the province’s residents. At the heart of the protest is the unwavering determination of families like Najma’s to seek closure and answers for their loved ones who have been lost to the decades-old conflict in Balochistan.