Families of missing persons threten to besiege CM and Governor’s House

By Bari Baloch

QUETTA, Dec 10: The relatives of missing persons of Balochistan while
rejecting the  claims of government about recovery of missing persons have
warned that if their dear ones were not recovered they would lay a siege to
the Chief Minister and Governor’s House.

Participants demanded of the United Nations and other Humanitarian
Organizations for taking strict notice of alleged incidents of forced
disappearances in Balochistan and exert pressure on Pakistan authorities to
sign on new UN convention about forced disappearances.

They expressed these views while addressing a protest rally organized by the
Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VMBP) on the eve of World Human Rights Day
at Manan Chowk, here on Thursday.

Family members of many missing persons attended the rally which started from
Balochistan University and after passing through various roads of the city
it culminated into a public gathering at Manan Chowk.

Participants of rally were carrying portraits of missing persons, placards
and banners inscribed with various slogans.

They were also chanting slogans against secret agencies and called on UN to
take immediate notice of alleged violation of human rights in Balochistan.

Addressing on the occasion, President VMBP Naserullah Baloch, Professor
Siddiq Baloch, sister of Zakir Majeed, sister of Abdul Hayee and others
vehemently condemned Balochistan Package and rejected announcement of
release of missing persons.

“Prime Minister Gilani had announced that missing persons would celebrate
Eid in their homes but so far no body has been released and still our dear
ones are languishing torture cells”, they alleged.

They alleged that there was no democratic government existing in Balochistan
and the main powers were still rested with security forces and government
agencies which were free to openly violate human rights in the province.

Referring to a list of 992 missing persons released by government, they said
that initially government was not recognizing missing persons of Balochistan
but now it had issued a list of few missing persons to show the world that
government was redressing the grievances of Baloch people.

“The number of missing persons in Balochistan is in thousands”, they added.

They said that rulers should explain that under which constitution and law
the Baloch youth were allegedly being picked up by government agencies and
subjected to inhuman torture.

They said that if their dear ones had committed any crime, government should
produce them before courts of law and they should be given a chance to prove
their innocence.

They said that government should take particle steps and recover all missing
persons instead of making claims and added that they would continue protest
until and unless their dear ones were recovered.

They said the main purpose of this rally was to get the attention of UN and
humanitarian organizations towards alleged excesses of security forces
against Baloch people.

They announced that they would set up a hunger strike camp outside Quetta
Press Club on December 20, and warned that if their demands were not
accepted they would lay a siege of the Chief Minister and Governor House.