Missing Baloch Students Case

The Missing Baloch Students Case refers to a situation in Pakistan where more than 50 students from Balochistan were reported missing. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been involved in the case, issuing directives for the recovery of the students.

Background

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was in the process of adjudicating a case related to the execution of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances' suggestions. This commission, formed in 2011, had the mandate to determine the location of missing individuals and attribute accountability. As per the court's directive, 69 students from Baloch were racially profiled, subjected to harassment, and forcibly disappeared. While some of these students managed to return home, there are still at least 50 who remain unaccounted for.

Hafeez Baloch case

Abdul Hafeez Baloch, a Baloch student and M.Phil scholar in physics at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, was allegedly subjected to racial profiling and an enforced disappearance. Here's a breakdown of the case details based on news reports:

* Disappearance: In February 2022, while visiting his hometown Khuzdar, Balochistan, masked men abducted Hafeez from a tuition academy.
* Baloch Students Council Islamabad protest: The Baloch Students Council Islamabad (BSC Islamabad) staged a hunger strike for over a month demanding his safe return.
* Release and charges: Hafeez was eventually released, but Pakistani security forces reportedly filed fabricated charges against him, labelling him a potential militant.
* Legal battle: Hafeez fought the charges in court and was eventually able to prove his innocence.

Additional Points:

* Hafeez's case highlights the Baloch Students Council's concerns about racial profiling and harassment of Baloch students at universities outside Balochistan.
* Human rights groups like the Human Rights Council of Balochistan condemned the incident and demanded the withdrawal of the fabricated FIR against Hafeez.

Faseeh and Sohail Baloch case

Faseeh Baloch and Sohail Baloch, students at the University of Balochistan in the city of Quetta, went missing on November, 2021.

* Disappearance: Both the students were allegedly abducted from the University Campus on November 1, 2021.

* Baloch Students Council University protest: The incident triggered a sit in by the Baloch Students Council (BSO) and massive protests resulting in halting of academic activities for up to 3 weeks. Protests started on November 7 after the suspected enforced disappearance.
* Negotiations attempts: Negotiations between the students and the university administration took place on November 9 but reportedly failed to reach a solution. Later, on November 11, a committee formed by the government met with the students with similarly inconclusive results. Subsequent negotiations also failed as the state had promised to recover the missing students by November 16th but failed to do so.
* Aftermath: Even after 3 years, the students remained missing. In Quetta, a large protest led by the Baloch Students Action Committee took place on the anniversary of their disappearance.

Court proceedings

The Islamabad High Court (IHC), presided over by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, directed the interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to present himself in court on November 29, 2023, unless he could facilitate the return of the missing Baloch students. The court also called upon the Interior Minister, Defence Minister, and Human Rights Minister to attend the hearing. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the progress made by both the commission and the government.

The interim PM, Kakar, after skipping two court summons, stated during the IHC proceedings (during the third summon) that the state was "fighting an armed insurgency" in Balochistan to which, Justice Kayani responded saying that “No court is asking to protect non-state actors.” According to the lawyer representing missing persons, Imaan Mazari, "whenever there is a discussion about missing persons it is drifted towards terrorists." The lawyer categorically stated that her clients do not support extremism and that the state authorities were indeed involved in the enforced disappearances according to the commission's findings. PM Kakar disagreed with the statements.

Government response

The Interim Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, gave the Islamabad High Court (IHC) his assurance regarding the recovery of the missing Baloch students. On the other hand, Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated that he would not be able to appear before the IHC in relation to the case of the missing Baloch students. He cited his overseas commitment to COP 28 as the reason for his absence but assured that the government would ensure representation in other relevant forums.

Current status

As of 29 November 2023, the IHC has been informed that 22 of the more than 50 missing Baloch students have been recovered. The court has demanded the return of the rest of the students.

See also

* Baloch long march

References

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2023 in case law
2023 in Pakistan
Education in Balochistan, Pakistan
Human rights abuses in Pakistan
Missing person cases in Pakistan
Missing Pakistani people
Islamabad High Court