Baloch Long March Catches International Attention

The 'Long March' against the alleged Baloch genocide, organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), reached Quetta, Pakistan, on December 11. This march, which started in Turbat a week earlier, culminated in a significant protest rally in Quetta. It is a response to human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan, specifically highlighting the case of Balaach Mola Bakhsh, who was killed in an operation by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Turbat. Protestors claim that Bakhsh's killing is indicative of a broader pattern of state-sponsored atrocities. In response, the Balochistan High Court has ordered the suspension of the involved CTD officials and the formation of an inquiry team. The primary goal of the march was to bring international attention to the human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by Pakistani state authorities in Balochistan. Concurrently, relatives of forcibly disappeared Baloch individuals have been actively protesting in Islamabad for fourteen days. To mark International Human Rights Day, these families organized a seminar at their protest camp, underscoring their ongoing struggle and their quest for justice. This protest is part of a larger movement addressing the issues of enforced disappearances and human rights violations in Balochistan. Families have been protesting for years, demanding answers and justice for their missing loved ones, as various accounts of abductions and the absence of legal proceedings for the detained individuals have surfaced.