Quetta: In a latest case of Pakistani oppression in occupied-Balochistan, the military has abducted two students of the University of Balochistan without any charges and their whereabouts are unknown.
Sohail Baloch and Safi Baloch were forcibly taken away by the Pakistani military personnel from the University campus hostel, according to several eye witnesses.
This is the latest case of ‘enforced disappearances’ of the local people indulged in by the Pakistani military in Balochistan, a territory under forcible occupation of Pakistan since 1948.
‘Enforced disappearances’ is a term used for the cases where people are abducted by the Pakistani state agencies in illegal acts. The victims are never produced before any court of law and neither are they found alive again.
Over the decades, thousands of people of Balochistan have been the victims of ‘enforced disappearances’ and their families and friends have been waiting hopelessly for their dear ones to return, even as dead bodies.
In the month of September, 28 cases of enforced disappearances were reported in Balochistan besides 25 cases of extra-judicial killings of locals by the Pakistani state authorities, according to the Human Rights Council of Balochistan.
During the month of August, the reported cases of enforced disappearances were 28 while the number of extra-judicial killings were 45, according to the Council.
In July, 22 Baloch people became victims of enforced disappearances and 19 of extra-judicial killings in Balochistan.
For years, the people of Balochistan have been pleading with the international community, including human rights bodies, to intervene to end their oppression at the hands of Pakistani state agencies.
“Enforced disappearance is a serious violation of human rights and crime against humanity. Pakistani forces are practicing it on daily basis in Balochistan. @UN and the world powers are silent on it. It seems #ISI and Pakistani army are exempted in committing this crime,” tweeted a distraught Kamal Baloch, former Chairman of Baloch Students Organisation-Azad (BSO-Azad).
In another tweet, he added, “Sohail Baloch and Safi Baloch were abducted by Pakistani terrorist army from University of Balochistan. We condemn this illegal act. It is an open threat to Baloch students and an attempt to keep them away from education.”
He said the Baloch and Pashtun people are targeted by the Pakistani forces and fake encounters have become a new norm.
“The state of Pakistan has decided to eliminate us by committing genocide. It’s time of unity for all oppressed nations to protect our future generations,” Baloch added.
