Occupied Balochistan: Last week, Pakistani security forces arrested several Baloch activists, two of which are members of BSO (AZAD), the largest Baloch Student Organisation in Balochistan. On 1 October 2010, members Shakir Baloch and Sami Baloch were abducted in the Khuzdar zone by Pakistan’s Frontier Corps, in broad daylight. They were taken to an unknown location; their families have no information concerning their whereabouts.In addition, on 29 September 2010, two Marri Baloch – Sohbat Khan Marri and Arz Mohammad (Arzi Marri) – became victims of enforced disappearance. They were arrested in the industrial town of Hub (or Hub town), Balochistan.Furthermore, on 28 September 2010, two Baloch youth – Khiar Mohammad and Murtaza Zehri – were abducted by armed persons in Khuzdar. Their families report that both Murtaza and Khair Mohammad were picked up at a shop on Chakar Road where they were employed. Like thousands of other Baloch victims of enforced disappearance, their whereabouts remain unknown. Similarly, on 23 September 2010, two more Baloch youth were arrested in the Basima region of Balochistan. Eye witnesses report that Abdul Wahid Baloch, a government school employee, and Ali Ahmad Baloch, a small business owner, were arrested during a search operation in Basima. Pakistani forces also searched the home of a female school teacher and in the absence of a male, badly harassed her and the children living there; they allegedly stole the occupants’ cash, valuables, and motorcycle. Tragically, approximately 8000 men, women and children thus far have been abducted in various parts of Balochistan. In the month of August 2010 alone, intelligence agencies ISI and MI picked up twenty Baloch political activists from different areas, detained and killed them. Thousands of Baloch missing persons continue to be in danger of losing their lives. It is imperative that the United Nations and European Union recognize this grave violation of human rights, committed by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, and intervene quickly to prevent further loss of life.
