Balochistan: Second phase of VBMP Long March for release of abducted Baloch enters its 5th day

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After walking 700km from Quetta to Karachi the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons team rested in Karachi for around 20 days. They convened a successful conference on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2013. Several journalists, human rights activists and families of abducted Baloch persons spoke at the conference and strongly criticised Pakistan military and intelligence agencies for their atrocities in Balochistan.

They families of abducted and martyred Baloch victims narrated their pain and sufferings as result of absence of their loved ones. Farzana Majeed older sister of Zakir Majeed Baloch, a student leader abducted in 2009 from Mastung Balochistan, said: “The blisters of my feet have not fully healed from the Long March from Quetta to Karachi but it seems some people have already forgotten the main reasons behind the March. That is why we have decided to arrange this follow up conference to remind the government and you that we do not give up. We are not tired, neither hopeless nor afraid of raising our voice for freedom and justice.”

The Pakistan government, media and judiciary has failed to hear their plea for the release thousands of Baloch political prisoners. They set off for another longer march towards Islamabad. On 13.12.2013 they launched the second phase of their long march from Karachi Press Club and walked till Malir town near Karachi International airport. They are adamant to continue their March till Islamabad and protest in front of the office of United Nations.

On the second day they started their march from Malir and the entire population of Malir including aged men, women and children of tender age rallied behind the VBMP Long March. Activists and leaders of different parties of Sindh warmly welcomed the team as they entered Razaqabad area of interior Sindh on Saturday evening. Qadeer Baloch, vice chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, addressing the well-wishers said that they are marching for the safe and early release of their loved ones.

He said no country in world has ever disappeared and killed people in the manner that Pakistan is disappearing and killing Baloch. “Even if our loved ones have done anything wrong they must be brought to courts and punished according to the law of land,” he said, adding that he will continue this march and go as far as Geneva at UN headquarters if he had to. On Sunday the VBMP Long March has left from Razzaqabad and walked all the way to Khatore area of Sindh. The convoy of the marchers was greeted by Sindhi and Baloch Nationalists and Welfare organisations at different places. Hundreds of Sindhi and Baloch youth joined the caravan of walk for justice. The leader of the convoy Mama Qadeer said they will present a memorandum to United Nations headquarters after they reach to Islamabad.

He said: “We will ask the UN why it has continuously been ignoring human rights violations, especially, enforced-disappearances and extra-judicial killings in Balochistan. He claimed that eighteen thousand two hundred thirty-six (18236) people have been abducted by Pakistani security agencies and army.

He added: “The victims of enforced-disappearances and extra-judicial killing include Baloch students, lawyers, teachers, political activists and other highly conscious member of Baloch society.” He expressed these views with media persons while on his way from Khatore to Dahbigi, where they stayed for the night. The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons long march has left from Dahbigi on Monday morning. The convoy of the marchers was again warmly greeted by Sindhi and Baloch Nationalists as well as members of Baloch community living in Sindh. Leaders of different Sindhi nationalist parties and Baloch Qaumi Movement assured the resilient and steadfast Baloch marcher their full support and cooperation. The foot march continued to gain momentum as it passed from different areas of Sindh. People have been welcoming the marchers with chains of flowers and great love and passion. They reached in Gharo on Monday evening and stayed at the house of a Sindhi nationalist. Tuesday morning they started their walk from Gharo and by the dusk they reached to Gujjo city in district Thatta area of Sindh. Hundreds of Sindhi Nationalists and members of Sindhi community and Baloch Qaumi Movement welcomed and joined the march. Charged activists chanted slogans for release of thousands of Baloch and Sindhi activists from the custody of Pakistan military and intelligence agencies. March has called it a day in a Goth ten kilometres away from Thatta city. It is expected that the support for the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons march will increase as they enter in main cities and strong hold of Sindhi nationalists. Talking to Balochwarna News Mama Qadeer Baloch said that the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons is the representative organisation of the families of abducted and extra-judicially killed Baloch activists. He said they were marching to demand the release of thousands of Baloch and bring the perpetrators of human rights violations in Baluchistan to justice. “We have no faith in federal government in Islamabad and powerless provincial government and Balochistan,” Mr Baloch said.

He also said that the government of Dr Malik has failed to trace abducted Baloch persons and deliver justice to their families, adding that: “We are also deeply disheartened by the helplessness of Pakistani judiciary, prejudice of Pakistani media and silence of civil society.”