Quetta: In grave violation of all norms and ethics, Pakistani security forces have abducted a woman and her 2 infant children in occupied Balochistan, adding yet another dimension to its gruesome practice of ‘Enforced Disappearances’ which has been responsible for victimisation of tens of thousands of people.
30-year-old Noor Khatun alias Nuraton and her children — daughter and son — were illegally picked up by the military personnel from a hotel in Quetta in Balochistan.
The family, belonging to Sibi district, had come to Quetta for medical treatment, according to reports.
Four days have passed since they were picked up by the forces but there whereabouts are still not known.
Political and social activists have launched protests, physically and on social media, demanding early release of the family while condemning the action of the Pakistani forces.
“Enforced disappearances are increasing rapidly in Balochistan. Pakistan army forcibly disappeared Noor Khatun along with her daughter, Banadi and Ghaffar from Quetta on August 28. International community must do its part to prevent the increase in enforced disappearances,” wrote Khalil Baloch, former Chairman of Baloch National Movement (BNM).
Enforced disappearances is a cruel practice employed by the Pakistani military and its associated agencies wherein people, including women and girls, are illegally picked up and subsequently their whereabouts are never known.
They are either kept in illegal detention and tortured for life or they are killed in an extra-judicial manner.
Mama Qadeer Baloch, Vice Chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, termed the action by the Pakistan forces as a “grave violation of human rights” and demanded immediate release of the abducted persons and action against those responsible.
He made these remarks during his visit to the site of a relay hunger strike by political and social activists in Quetta against ‘enforced disappearances’ which has been going on for 5155 days.
Qadeer Baloch said Noor Khatun’s family had gone into exile because of political unrest in Balochistan but returned in 1992 along with other refugees because of their allegiance to the politics of Baloch leader Khairbakhsh Marri.
Subsequently, state agencies targeted their family, raiding their house and forcibly disappearing many members.
Mama Qadeer Baloch highlighted that earlier other members of the family have also been victims of enforced disappearances or extra-judicial killings by the Pakistani forces.
These actions of Pakistani forces are clear violation of human rights, he said.
“The arbitrary arrest and torture of women and children is violation of constitution and laws will only exacerbate the anxiety in Balochistan and further worsen the situation of human rights,” he added.
