Quetta

The family of Zaheer Ahmed has been staging a sit-in protest on Sariab Road in Quetta, Pakistan, for seven days, demanding his safe return. Ahmed was allegedly abducted by Pakistani security forces on June 27 and has been missing since. Despite their ongoing protest, the family expressed disappointment at the Balochistan government’s lack of response.

Zaheer was taken away unlawfully and has been missing ever since. We have been sitting here for seven days, but there has been no communication from the authorities, The Balochistan Post quoted the family.

Zaheer Ahmed’s family organized a protest rally from Sariab Sessions Court to Balochistan University. The rally, which aimed to draw attention to his enforced disappearance, drew a significant crowd including families of other missing persons, student groups, political parties, and concerned citizens of Quetta.

Protesters carried banners with photographs of missing persons, demanding their safe return and an end to enforced disappearances. The rally underscored the long-standing issue of missing persons in Balochistan, a human rights concern for the past two decades.

Nasrullah Baloch, Chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), and Zaheer Ahmed’s sister addressed the gathering, condemning his unlawful detention and the government’s inaction. They urged authorities to engage with protesting families and provide relief, highlighting the emotional distress caused by prolonged disappearances.