The International Convention for the Protection of all Persons From Enforced Disappearances Enters Into Force on 23 December 2010

A Press Release from the International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

(November 25, 2010) On 23 November 2010, the Republic of Iraq deposited the 20th instrument of ratification for the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances to the Secretary General of the United Nations. Iraq becomes the 20th State to ratify this treaty. Its historic accession means that the Convention will enter into force on 23 December 2010, 30 days after the 20th accession or ratification.

Balochistan remain closed after recovery of dead bodies of six missing persons including a journalist

GAWADAR, Occupied Balochistan – Nov 19: After recovery of dead bodies of six missing persons including a journalist Lala Hameed Baloch, Balochistan remain closed on Friday due to shut down strike.

Genocide and gross human rights violations in Balochistan

by South Asia News

Balochistan, November 08: The Pakistani province of Balochistan seems to be perpetually in a state of crisis. Incidents of target killings and bomb blasts are on the rise. Young people often go missing and leaders are targeted and killed in the region. The people of Balochistan say that the Pakistan government and its law enforcement agencies are to blame for violations of human rights in this province. In 2010, violence has surged in Balochistan. Human rights activists are concerned about an increase in target killings. Human Rights group Amnesty International called on Pakistan to investigate the torture and killing of more than 40 political leaders and activists in the region from June to September in 2010 against a backdrop of increasing political unrest and Pakistani military activities in the southwestern province which borders Iran and Afghanistan.

BRP Gwader Zone president Rehman Arif Baloch goes missing

President of BRP Gawader Zone has been abducted early Sunday morning along with his relative, they were going to hospital for check up of his relative but in the half way they were abducted by Pakistani intelligence agencies. After a few hours the abducted relative of Rehman Arif was released but Rehman Arif is still missing.

Occupied Balochistan: BRP has protested against the abduction of their Gwadar Zone president Mr. Rehman Arif Baloch in front of Turbat Press Club here on Sunday. The protesters demanded the immediate recovery and release of all Baloch political activists. They also chanted slogans against Pakistan and its intelligence agencies.

Two missing persons found dead

A young girl protests for missing relatives in Quetta. Photo: PPI

The bullet-riddled bodies of two men who had been missing since May 2009 were found on Qambrani Road here on Monday morning.

According to officials, residents of Qambrani Road spotted the two bodies lying in a field and informed local police. Police said the victims’ hands and feet were bound.

Deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan and Iranian controlled Balochistan

A letter to Ban Ki Moon

Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary- General
United Nations Organization
United Nations Secretariat New York,
NY 10017-3515

Subject: Deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan and Iranian controlled Balochistan

Dear Secretary General,

On the occasion of International Day against Torture in support of victims of torture on 26 June, we would like to draw your kind attention towards the inhuman treatment of the Baloch by the Iranian and Pakistani security agencies.

کوئٹہ: ذاکر مجید اہلخانہ کی بھوک ہڑتال جاری، خواتین کا احتجاجی مظاہرہ

‘Missing’ Baloch leader’s family hold demo at KPC

The next-of-kin of Zakir Baloch, including his sister Farzana Majeed, cousins and children held a protest demonstration in front of Karachi Press Club (KPC) for the recovery of Zakir who is “missing” since June 8, 2009. Zakir Baloch is Senior Vice- Chairman, Baloch Students Organisation (Azad).

“My brother Zakir had gone to Mastung on an organisational trip of the BSO,” his elder sister Farzana Majeed told The News. “Two other BSO activists Waheed Murad and Abdul Basit were accompanying him. When they reached Piringabad, Mastung, two cars with armed men arrived from somewhere and kidnapped my brother and his two comrades,” she said.

EXCLUSIVE: “The Supreme Court no longer talks of the missing persons”

An exclusive interview of Nasrullah Baloch, chairman Voice for Missing Baloch Persons (VMBP) with The Baloch Hal

Interview by Malik Siraj Akbar

If there is one issue one cannot skip while talking about Balochistan, it is indeed the case of numerous missing persons who have allegedly been whisked away by the state intelligence agencies. Former military dictator General Musharraf , who instigated the conflict in Balochistan, is gone; his policies predominately continue to misrule the gas-rich province. The Baloch Hal spoke to chairman of Voice for the Missing Baloch Persons, a platform that has brought together all the families that simultaneously mourn and await the return of a missing person. Excerpts:

Malik Siraj Akbar & Nasrullah Baloch

The life of a disappeared Baloch student leader is in danger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-STM-022-2010
February 4, 2010
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

PAKISTAN: The life of a disappeared student leader is in danger

The life of a student leader who was arrested by state intelligence officials is in danger. It is apprehended that he might have been killed. The government of Balochistan says that he was released on January 22, 2010, but his family members have said that he has not yet returned home. They have inquired after him at all local police stations, asking if he was booked under another case, but have not been able to find him.