Quetta [Pakistan], March 25 (ANI): Four Baloch individuals, including two are brothers, reportedly went missing on Monday from the three different districts of Balochistan, the human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement, called PAANK, said. In a post on X, PAANK stated that “Four more youths have been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in #Balochistan. The enforced disappearances are intensifying every other day. We have been informed of four disappearances from Awaran, Khuzdar, and Mastung, three different districts of Balochistan. Two of the victims are brothers”.

The same post also mentioned that “These abhorrent acts of forced disappearances by Pakistani forces are a blatant violation of human rights and a grave injustice to the affected individuals and their families. Such actions must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and those responsible must be held accountable for their reprehensible deeds. The authorities must take immediate action to investigate these disappearances and ensure the safe return of the missing youths.”

Another social organisation in Pakistan, Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) stated in a social media post that family of one of the missing persons Amir Hamza has been organizing a small protest demanding the return of their loved one. In a social media post on platform ‘X’ VBMP stated “Relatives of Mustang Amir Hamza Bengalzai have blocked the road at Jungle Cross against the forced disappearance. The family members demand that Amir Hamza be recovered.

Previously, the Baloch Students’ Council (BSC) Punjab held a rally in Lahore on Saturday to protest against the alleged enforced disappearance of a Baloch medical student from Sargodha. The rally started with a large procession and concluded with a peaceful demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club. People who participated in the event handed out leaflets to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Baloch students, in Balochistan and elsewhere.

The rally started with a large procession and concluded with a peaceful demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club. People who participated in the event handed out leaflets to raise awareness about the challenges faced by Baloch students, in Balochistan and elsewhere. While addressing a press conference in Quetta, Khudadad Siraj’s family shared details about his disappearance. They recalled that Khudadad was taken away while he was out to purchase bread with a friend, as a man in a car engaged him in conversation until another vehicle arrived, from which several armed men came out, abducted Khudadad, and drove away. (ANI)

Protests held against alleged abduction, forced marriage of underage girl from Gilgit

Gilgit Baltistan [Pok], March 25 (ANI): Protest demonstrations took place in Hunza and Islamabad on Sunday in response to the alleged abduction and forced marriage of an underage girl from Gilgit Baltistan, Dawn reported. The 13-year-old girl disappeared from Sultanabad village in Gilgit four days ago.

In Hunza, the protest was held at Karakoram Highway in Aliabad, drawing a significant turnout of activists from various political parties, as per Dawn. Participants held placards demanding the girl’s recovery without her being forced into marriage.

According to Dawn, the Awami Workers Party organized the protest against the purported abduction and forced marriage of the student. AWP senior leader Baba Jan accused the Gilgit-Baltistan police of protecting those involved in the abduction and forced marriage of the underage girl. He said that, “the girl’s father was a laborer, due to which both the police and the alleged abductors were trying to pressure him. He threatened a large protest at Ittehad Chowk of Gilgit if the police did not show seriousness and recover the girl.”

Ikram Baig Jamal, Akhun Bai, and others also spoke on the occasion. The protesters demanded that the girl be recovered immediately. They said forced statements were being made about the girl. Simultaneously, civil society activists, child rights organizations, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, lawyers, journalists, and representatives from various political parties convened a separate protest outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, urging the immediate recovery of the girl. They also demanded a transparent investigation into the case.

The protesters questioned the role of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Rights Commission as the unlawful marriage was solemnised in the Mansehra district of the province. Moreover, the suspects also applied for a transit bail at Peshawar High Court, which makes it mandatory for the Child Rights Commission to investigate, respond, and rescue the child.

A video posted on social media by the alleged abductors of the girl claimed that she was married to a 17-year-old boy. This age is also not legal for marriage under Child Marriage Restraint Amendment Act of 1929. Furthermore, in the video, the suspects showed the girl older than her actual age contrary to her original Nadra issued birth registration certificate. (ANI)