Balochistan: Children of Asylum Seekers Targeted for Enforced Disappearances

September 5, 2014

Balochistan: Children of Asylum Seekers Targeted for Enforced Disappearances

A recent wave of disappearances of the children of Baloch asylum seekers living abroad has raised concerns that the Pakistani State Intelligence Agency is targeting the families of asylum seekers that remain in Balochistan for enforced disappearances.  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has documented 8 recent such cases of suspected enforced disappearances, which highlight the danger the Balochi people continue to face.  The targeting of family members adds a disturbing dimension to the situation and makes it increasingly difficult to escape persecution.

Below is an appeal published by: Asian Human Rights Commission

According to reports, abductions and enforced disappearances are continuing to take place in Balochistan and there has been no restraint in the military offensives launched in the different parts of the province - the offensives that were launched in search for the terrorists who according to security sources are involved in sabotage activities including attacks on military establishments. 

Reports received said that Mr. Nabeel Ahmed, 22 years of age was abducted on August 30th August 2014 – which marked the International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearance - from Karachi in the Sindh province.  Mr Ahmed was the son of Mr. Kachkol Ali, who was during the period of military government of General Musharraf, the leader of opposition in the Balochistan assembly and also served as member of the provincial assembly on three previous occasions. Mr. Ali left Balochistan in the year 2010 when three prominent Baloch political leaders were arrested by the Frontier Corp (FC) of the Pakistan Army while he was in his law chamber and after two days their bodies were thrown out from a helicopter. Before he fled the country Mr. Ali was threatened by the persons from intelligence agency for informing media about the abduction of these political leaders.

Mr. Kachkol Ali now lives in Norway and is seeking asylum there. Mr Kachkol Ali’s son, Nabeel Ahmed, was abducted from outside of his residence at Karachi Garden West and his family members suspect that he was abducted by the state intelligence agency, the ISI. Nabeel has also filed a constitution petition for the recovery of two houses of his father which were forcibly occupied by the security forces. His houses were in Turbat district, Balochistan. Nabeel has also recently issued a statement on behalf of his father on the killings eight persons from Baloch minority ethnic group-the Zikri, by the security forces and murder of two journalists.

In yet another incident, the houses of one Baloch asylum seeker in Norway, Mr. Hafeez Hassan Abadi, and his brother, were raided by the security forces on August 10 [2014], situated in Ahsanabad, Kharan, Balochistan. Security forces and persons from intelligence agencies have arrested his two nephews, Mr. Najeeb Ullah and 14 year old, Hasan Jan, and their whereabouts are unknown. Mr. Hafeez Hassan Abadi is a well-known intellectual in Balochistan, he is a teacher and a short story writer. Mr Abadi was compelled to flee the country in the year 2009 when an organization named Tehreek-e-Nefaz-e-Aman Balochistan (TNAB) – which was formed by the security establishment to kill nationalists elements in the pretext of fighting terrorism – was involved in harassing him A Pakistani news agency, NNI, has reported that the TNAB has recently threatened to kill every single member of the Baloch intelligentsia and also threatened to kill Hafeez Hasan Abadi's family. Hafeez is a famous writer and columnist, writing on human rights abuses by the military and state agencies, as well as actively campaigning for the release of disappeared persons. In a statement, TNAB’s spokesperson Ghazi Khan Baloch, is reported as saying that his group will target Hafeez Hasan Abadi wherever they see him declaring him to be a blasphemer and an infidel.

In another incident, two more young persons, Naseem the son of Bibaker and Sath Nisar the son of Miran who are residents of Shapuk Turbat have been forcibly abducted on January 29, 2014 and their whereabouts too are still unknown. 

Family members believe that the abducted children of those who are living abroad, will be killed in the detention centers of the security forces as this is the common practice following enforced disappearances – this is done to erase any evidence of disappearances and extra judicial killings by the security forces. Media reports from Pakistan have stated that the Pakistan army launched a brutal operation in Dera Bugti’s Pelawagh region and adjoining areas of Balochistan on 29th August 2014.

It is reported that Pakistani forces have started an alleged offensive in different areas of Dera Bugti including Lop Sehrani, Sar lop, Roshosh and Lerpati. One Baloch civilian namely Attaullah Bugti was killed and more than 50 Bugti tribesmen were abducted by state forces during this ruthless operation.  Three of the abductees have been identified as Elahi Bugti and his two sons Sajid Bugti and Muneer Bugti.

Similarly Baloch social media activists said, a large number of Pakistani troops surrounded New Khan, a Baloch dominated area in Quetta. Forces raided houses, brutally tortured residents and abducted dozens in a door to door operation. Meanwhile the pro-independence party and the Baloch Republican Party, have strongly condemned military operations in Dera Bugti and New Kahan.

The situation in Balochistan shows that there is total collapse of rule of law and the impunity of the law enforcement authorities has become the order of the day. The AHRC urges the government to prosecute organizations openly threatening the people of Balochistan for demanding their civil and political rights.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concerned by these threats to the children and family members of the Baloch seekers and urges the government and authorities to act quickly to protect them. The government should also prosecute all security force officials who are using militant groups to unleash their own offensives against nationalist movements.

Name of victims:

1.Mr. Nabeel Ahmed son of Mr. Kachkol Ali, former leader of the opposition of Balochistan assembly, resident of Garden West, Karachi, Sindh province

2. Mr. Najeeb ullah resident of Ahsanabad, Kharan district, Balochistan

3. Master Hasan Jan of age 14 year, resident of Ahsanabad, Kharan district, Balochistan

4. Naseem son of Bibaker, Shapuk, Turbat, Balochistan

5. Sath Nisar son of Miran residents of Shapuk Turbat

6. Elahi Bugti, resident of Dera Bugti, Balochistan

7. Sajid Bugti son of Elahi Bugti, resident of Dera Bugti, Balochistan

8. Muneer Bugti son of Elahi Bugti, resident of Dera Bugti, Balochistan

Names of alleged perpetrators: State intelligence agencies

Date of incident: January and August, 2014

Place of incident: Different districts of Balochistan and Karachi, Sindh

http://unpo.org/article/17491