7-year disappearance of Zahid Baloch is a question on existence of international organisations: BNM

The central spokesperson of Baloch National Movement (BNM) on the completion of seven years of the enforced disappearance of Zahid Baloch, former chairman of BSO Azad, said that the head of students organisation, armed with knowledge and strong political ideology, was forcibly whisked away in broad daylight. His disappearance is a question mark over the existence of international and regional human rights organizations, most notably the Asian Human Rights Commission, on whose assurance the BSO ended its hunger strike camp.

The spokesman said Zahid Baloch was playing a significant role in the national movement as a young student leader. Pakistan was afraid of him for mobilising the youth, equipping them with the weapon of consciousness and giving them a clear direction. The solution came in the form of the enforced disappearance of Zahid Baloch, like other youths. But the state of Pakistan is not aware of the fact that the voices of truth cannot be silenced through imprisonment.

He said, “Zahid is a dynamic politician and played an important role in mobilizing the youth. That is why he is still a beacon for the youth and he is being remembered. Zahid Baloch’s voice is still resonating in every nook and corner of the Baloch land; even his voice can be heard globally in the speeches of Baloch activists.”

He said that the enforced disappearance of Zahid Baloch was part of a strategy to stifle political and democratic voices in Balochistan. Pakistan had banned political activities in occupied Balochistan, abducted thousands of people, including political leaders and activists.

The spokesperson added that incidents like the enforced disappearance of hundreds of leaders and thousands of political activists, including then BSO chairman Zahid Baloch and BNM president Wajah Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, could happen in an unnatural state like Pakistan because in todays world the assassination of political leaders is an alien phenomenon.

He said that many political leaders and activists including Zahid Baloch had been locked up in torture cells of the security forces of Pakistan for years. Many leaders had been killed after being abducted by forces. Dr. Deen Muhammad Baloch, Ghafoor Baloch, Ramzan Baloch, Zakir Majeed and Shabir Baloch were engaged in political struggle. Their disappearance is a challenge from Pakistan to all international bodies, including the United Nations. Thus, Pakistan is committing Baloch genocide by trampling on all human rights laws.

The spokesman said that Lateef Joher’s hunger strike till death for the recovery of Zahid Baloch, was called off on the assurance of the Asian Human Rights Commission. But it failed to deliver on its promises. The families of the missing persons have already given up appearing before Pakistani institutions and their commissions, as they receive nothing but false promises. The Asian Human Rights Commission should live up to its promises and raise its voice against the non-recovery of Zahid Baloch so that the people’s trust in the responsible institution is maintained.