Disappearance of human rights defender Abdul Wahid Baloch

On 4 August 2016, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) formed a Fact Finding Committee to investigate the disappearance of human rights defender Mr Abdul Wahid Baloch on 26 July 2016 near a highway toll plaza in Karachi.

Abdul Wahid Baloch is a human rights defender who has called for justice for the Baloch community through the organisation of campaigns, protests and public condemnation of a number of high profile cases. The Baloch community have faced various forms of oppression in Pakistan and human rights defenders that have demanded justice for state violationsagainst them have been regarded as being anti-state by the Pakistani authorities. This disappearance is the latest in a string of enforced disappearances, torture and extra judicial executions of individuals from the Baloch community from the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. So far this year, there has been more than 400 abductions and enforced disappearances of Baloch civilians by the security forces.

On 4 August 2016, HRCP formed a Fact Finding Committee to investigate the disappearance of Abdul Wahid Baloch on 26 July 2016. HRCP is an independent organisation that monitors human rights violations and seeks redress through public campaigns, lobbying and assistance in court proceedings. HRCP also organises seminars, workshops and fact finding missions on human rights abuses.

On 26 July 2016, Abdul Wahid Baloch was taken by armed persons in plain clothes from a highway toll plaza on the outskirtsof Karachi while he was travelling with his friend from Digre. Two of the persons forcibly stopped the vehicle of the human rights defender and asked him to show his national identity card, which they verified with a picture of Abdul Wahid Baloch ontheir smart phone. Abdul Wahid Baloch was then taken away in a blue vehicle. The friend of Abdul Wahid Baloch later informed the family members of the human rights defender about his disappearance.

On 28 July 2016, family members went to Gadap Police Station to report the incident, however police refused to complete afirst information report, to register it as a kidnapping case and have not yet launched any investigation.

Front Line Defenders expresses grave concern at the disappearance of human rights defender Abdul Wahid Baloch, which it believes was solely motivated by the peaceful and legitimate work to demand justice for state violations in the Baloch community in Pakistan.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Pakistan to:

1. Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the disappearance of human rights defenderAbdul Wahid Baloch, with a view to ensuring his protection and release, publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

2. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Pakistan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Category: Media Monitoring