Family of kidnapped student protests in Kech against rising incidents of enforced disappearances in Balochistan

Buleda is a small valley and a tehsil of Kech District in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.

The victim was captured during a raid at a hotel and was severely beaten during the abduction, the Balochistan Post reported on Wednesday.

Anees's brother Fakhar Baloch claimed that Anees was a computer science graduate from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan and was picked up from 'Cafe PUBG' hotel and has been missing since then.

Baloch human rights groups, student organisations, leaders and fellow students have appealed on social media for the safe return of Anees-ur-Rehman. Baloch students live in constant fear and anxiety, not knowing when they will be abducted.

Furthermore, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said on 'X', “Stop kidnapping Baloch students. Anees Baloch, a computer science graduate from BZU Multan, was abducted from Khuzdar and Farooq Baloch from Quetta. If there are any charges against them, present them in court.”

Stop kidnapping Baloch students. Anees Baloch, a computer science graduate from BZU Multan, was kidnapped from Khuzdar and Farooq Baloch from Quetta. If there are any charges against them, present them in court. #SaveBalochStudents #EndEnforcedDisappearances pic.twitter.com/g1iAkHXfNq

– Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) June 5, 2024

The Baloch Students Action Committee also said, “The enforced disappearance of Anees ur Rehman Baloch from Khuzdar is extremely worrying. Anees Baloch, a BSc Multan graduate and former president, was abducted from a local restaurant in Khuzdar on June 4, 2024. This incident is part of a recent wave of enforced disappearances targeting Baloch people, especially Baloch students, which has created a tense and frightening atmosphere. Farooq Baloch was also forcibly disappeared last week and is still missing. We demand the immediate safe release of Anees Baloch and urgent measures to ensure the safety of Baloch students.”

The enforced disappearance of Anees ur Rehman Baloch from Khuzdar is extremely worrying. Anees Baloch, a graduate and former president of BSC Multan, was abducted from a local restaurant in Khuzdar on June 4, 2024. This incident is part of a recent spate of enforced disappearances. pic.twitter.com/0wifxmWxZs

— BSAC (@BSAC_org) June 4, 2024

Taking the matter forward, Baloch rights leader Mehrang Baloch said, “Baloch students are the backbone of our society; they are the major victims of enforced disappearances by the state. Once they disappear, their faces start to look familiar, appear on timelines and their names turn into hashtags. The oppression is relentless; it spares no one if we don’t choose to resist. As Baba Khair Bux Marri said, “The longer it takes us to rise up against state oppression, the higher the price we will pay as a nation.”

Currently, the family members of the kidnapped person and the local public of Balochistan took out a long march on the streets of Buleda raising slogans and eventually gathered in front of the office of District Commissioner of Kech, TBP reported.

Many protesters during the march said they have been continuously protesting against enforced disappearances and yet such incidents show no sign of abating in Balochistan.

On the contrary, Baloch kidnapping incidents have seen a sharp rise. They also said that if their loved ones have committed any crime then they should be presented in courts for a fair trial. Moreover, they also said that they will continue to protest in front of the Kech DC office until their loved ones are released, Balochistan Post reported.