Islamabad: A little girl named Maryam Baloch broke down when asked about her father’s abduction. Carrying her father’s picture, which had a date and his name written on it, Maryam, wearing slippers in the harsh winter, covered herself with a shawl and sweater. Despite her circumstances, she hoped to bring her father back.
Maryam holding her father’s picture in which he is carrying her. Photo: Veengas
Even when she approached Dr. Mahrang Baloch. an activist leading the ‘March against Baloch Genocide’ from Turbat to Islamabad, her eyes were full of hope. Mahrang consoled her. Perhaps this hope gives them warmth during the winter and the strength to bear the hostility of the Islamabad police, which recently cracked down brutally on a march.
The local police surveilled the Baloch women’s protest camp, placing iron fences and cameras to capture every moment. Some locals harassed the victims’ families, labelling them as terrorists. One of them used vile language in front of the police and some policemen appeared to enjoy the woman’s remarks. Meanwhile, other locals who tried to support the protesters by bringing them quilts were stopped by the police.
The protesters didn’t pay heed to the offensive remarks. One of them said, “The state’s behaviour is even worse.”
Little kids accompanying their mothers did not play or demand anything. They just carried photos of the missing people in their little hands.
Seema Baloch, the sister of Shabir Baloch who was abducted years ago, has been participating in these protests for a while now. When the Islamabad police beat them on December 20 last year, all she could think about in those moments was her little daughter. “Little kids who should have toys in their hands are holding pictures of their fathers, uncles, and brothers,” Seema said.
A young activist, Sadia Baloch, said that at one point, they thought of sending the elderly back to their homes because the state was shamelessly beating and torturing every Baloch. To their surprise, the senior citizens refused to go back and insisted that, one way or another, they would register their protest.
For over a month, the Baloch women’s protest has continued, stretching from Turbat, Balochistan to Islamabad. Despite the biting cold, women, children, and men are peacefully leading the protest. Over 200 families have joined it. The families of the victims of enforced disappearances from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Multan also joined it.
Sammi Deen Baloch, who has been protesting against this for over a decade, and is now one of its leaders, said that if the state’s violence cannot break us, then how will the harsh winter or rains break us?
First time protestors
Baloch families from far-flung areas also joined the protest this time. When The Wire spoke to them, they revealed that they had approached local sardars (leaders). These leaders instructed them to remain silent. Some families were even told that speaking up for their relatives who were detained could result in their relatives being killed.
Family members requesting for a picture to get the government’s attention. Photo: Veengas
Family members of the victims of forced disappearances do not have copies of First Information Reports (FIRs) as official authorities refrain from registering the cases. One protester, lacking her husband’s photo, presented an identity card copy. Another showed an old news clip to substantiate her claim that her family member was abducted, yet authorities did nothing to find him.
Gulnaz Baloch, who speaks Balochi, mentioned that it is the first time that she has joined the protest. Her husband, Ali Khan, was abducted in 2014. Despite approaching the authorities multiple times, she found no solution. When she learned about Mahrang, she said, “Mahrang is one of us, and she feels our pain.” Gulnaz said that she does not have a mobile but her neighbours informed her that Mahrang was leading the Balochs for the release of missing persons. To join the protest, she borrowed Rs 20,000 from them and traveled to Islamabad.
“I did not come to visit Islamabad. I am here out of helplessness, seeking the release of my husband. Despite the difficulty of winter, I won’t go back till my husband is released.” Gulnaz has hope in Mahrang because, initially, no media house bothered to listen to her story. Now, the media has reported her case to some extent. She further said that her sardars did not do anything to help them when Mahrang did.
Many families who joined the protest for the first time borrowed money to come to Islamabad. Darya Khatoon, who speaks Sindhi, said that she does not know how to write. She managed to note the date when Sindh Rangers picked up her brother in 2014. She said that her relatives had told her that Mahrang was helping people with this and she should seek her assistance.
When asked about people calling it ‘drama’, Darya expressed disappointment and rejected it. Others accompanying Darya said, “When the government tells us where our relatives are, then, we will leave your Islamabad.”
Some of the victims’ family members approached this journalist, requesting a photo, with a picture of the missing person; hoping that the government might release them after seeing the picture.
Another victim, Hayat Khatoon, said, “We share the same stories, just the date of abduction and pictures change. Our common anguish makes us strong, and Mahrang’s spirit raises our hopes.”
Sammi Deen narrated the struggle to join this movement and how families that had initially avoided speaking became involved. About 14 years ago, there were eight families with them when they first came to Islamabad. The second time, 15 families joined, and the third time, there were 20. In Quetta, almost 50 families gradually joined them. And this time, in Islamabad, more than 200 families had come. She said that the movement’s success lies in families breaking their silence.
Gul Khan Baloch, hailing from Kohlu, also joined the protests this time. His brother Baaz Mohammad was abducted in 2012. After seeing a video of Mahrang, he felt hopeful that she would help him. While he had been asking local leaders to bring his brother back, all their promises turned out to be empty. “Mahrang is fighting for us. We should not stay silent, instead we should support her,” he said.
Gul Khan Baloch, showing his brother’s picture. Photo: Veengas
He said that these pictures of missing persons are not mere pictures, they are families. Each family member suffers. His brother’s wife does not even know if she is a widow or married. He criticised the government and affirmed that they would continue the protest even if the state’s response was indifference.
Even Baloch children have lost faith in the committees
Mahrang spoke with The Wire and criticised the committees set up to help find the missing people. However, they have never produced the results; instead, such committees help the state bury issues. “Committees have already been formed about missing persons, so where were the results?” she asked.
Saira Bibi Marri, whose father Dr. Muhammad Akbar was abducted on April 20, 2010, voiced dissatisfaction with committees that reiterated the same inquiries and pledged her father’s return. Yet, her wait is not over.
Zurkul Baloch, the mother of another victim, said that her son Sayed Ahmed was abducted 11 years ago. Committee members came to her asking her to sign papers and promised the return of her son. But nothing happened.
“Even children have lost faith in committees in Balochistan,” said Mahrang.
‘We are in Islamabad for justice’
Najma Baloch, whose brother Balach Mola Baksh was murdered during an alleged fake encounter, later leading to the movement, decided not to bury her brother’s dead body until authorities accepted their crime.
Talking to The Wire in broken Urdu, she said the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and state agencies are terrorists who killed her brother. While her mother told her not to create more trouble by preventing her brother’s last rites to take place, Najma told her that his killing was a horrible act and he has himself has asked her to fight for him.
Najma insisted that we are not staging a drama. “We are in Islamabad for justice. The state wants to break Mahrang, but let me tell them we Balochs are with her,” she said.
Najma Baloch, holding her brother Balach Mola Baksh’s picture. Photo: Veengas
The state has a ‘genocide policy’ against Balochs
In Pakistan, some raised objections to the term ‘Baloch genocide’ used in the protest. Mahrang criticised them and asked if they felt uncomfortable by Balochs who were highlighting the truth. She asked, “Why should Balochs not use the term when their sixth generation is being killed. The state has been employing a genocide policy against Balochs for decades.”
“The word ‘genocide’ hurts them because it reveals the truth,” Mahrang said, adding that mass graves have been found in Balochistan and questioned why they should remain silent as the grave on the graveyard named Edhi.”
Balochs are in a queue at the hospital when they receive news about a missing person found dead. Our people are finding their relatives in shrouds. “Do you ever feel the pain of those families?” she asked.
She said that the state has every intention of erasing Baloch identity. The state identifies Balochs to kill and abduct them. Even if someone moves to another country, say Dubai, the state abducts them from there just because they are Baloch. Moreover, Baloch students are targeted and profiled. The students cannot return to their villages because of the state’s threats. Even Balochs who live in D.G. Khan, which was illegally annexed with Punjab, face abductions by the state. The state uses every cruel act to kill Balochs. “If you are against Balochs, we will call it Baloch genocide,” said Mahrang.
She said that all their demands are within the purview of the Pakistani constitution. If a UN inquiry could be formed in the case of the late Benazir Bhutto, why not in their case? She does not understand why the state is afraid of accepting their demand for a UN inquiry when it claims that the state is not committing crimes. If that is the case, let the UN invite them to see the truth and determine who is responsible.
She responded to the government’s denial of the alleged death squad and said she did not need to convince the government. “The death squads exist and are fully supported by the state. Balochistan has mass graves because of death squads,” she alleged.
Murtaza Solangi, federal caretaker minister for information, did not respond to our messages for a comment.
A counter-protest
A group of people have set up a counter-protest against the Baloch women’s protest. Pictures of those leading the counter-protest were circulated on social media. Some have claimed that this group is linked to the alleged death squads. It is believed that the state has supported a counter-protest to weaken the Baloch women’s protest, posing a direct threat to the movement.
“When we entered Islamabad, we were baton-charged and jailed, but this group has been welcomed and even facilitated. It clearly shows which side the state is on,” said Mahrang.
