For loved ones: Blistered Baloch at the gates of the capital

RAWALPINDI: Some are calling it the longest march in country’s history. Weathering all odds, the Baloch marchers at last entered the federal capital on Friday. They were joined by a large number of members of civil society and political parties who had gathered at the Faizabad interchange where they marchers plan to camp over the weekend. Holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands, the participants of Voice of Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) caravan asked the people to join them in the cause. “Mahatma Gandhi had hardly covered a few hundred kilometres when his voice got heard but we have covered thousands of kilometres yet there is no one to assure us of the whereabouts and recovery of our missing loved ones,” said 72-year old Abdul Qadeer Baloch whose son was allegedly killed by the security agencies.

Traffic plan was prepared a day earlier when the march reached Rawalpindi and traffic was diverted on alternative routes. The march that set out from Quetta in October last year will hand over a memorandum to the officials of the United Nations on Monday and urge them to take notice of the target killing and enforced disappearances. They will also stage a sit-in outside the UN office. He said they have no trust in the government of Pakistan and want to talk directly to the United Nation. “Wherever they stop us we will stage a sit-in,” he said. Moving with slow pace, the participants remained peaceful. “If the kill-and-dump policy did not stop the country may have to face dire consequences,” said Hamid Baloch, said an activist from Balochistan. The Balochis have been protesting for last several years for the recovery of their near and dears but no one is hearing them and in return are labelled as terrorists and separatists. Qadeer claimed that around 1,500 persons were killed while 18,000 missing. “The authorities should at least tell us whether they are killed or still alive. Produce them in court if they are really guilty of anti-state activities,” he demanded. Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.