Quetta, Balochistan: The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) marked a significant milestone today, completing 6,000 days of uninterrupted peaceful protest against the widespread issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. At a press conference outside the Quetta Press Club, VBMP Chairman Nasrullah Baloch, General Secretary Horan Baloch, and families of the disappeared addressed the media, reflecting on the organization’s enduring struggle for justice.
For over 16 years, the VBMP has held the longest-running peaceful human rights protest in the world. The organization, which seeks the recovery of thousands of Baloch individuals forcibly disappeared since 2000, has organized a range of events, including protests, marches, and seminars across Balochistan, Karachi, and Islamabad. Notably, they carried out a historic 4,000-kilometer-long march from Quetta to Islamabad in 2013-2014 to raise awareness of their cause.
Despite facing heavy repression, including fabricated charges, arrests, and even extrajudicial killings of some members, VBMP leaders remain resolute in their commitment to non-violent activism. “Our struggle has come at a personal cost, but we will not be silenced,” said Nasrullah Baloch.
The VBMP’s advocacy highlights the systemic failure of state institutions in addressing enforced disappearances. Leaders criticized recent legal amendments that, in the name of national security, have instead provided a legal cover for these violations. They called on the Pakistani government to resolve the issue through political dialogue rather than force.
The group emphasized that enforced disappearances in Balochistan are not just an ethnic issue but a global human rights concern. VBMP urged the international community to stand against such violations and join their call for the immediate release of all missing persons.
As the protest camp continues, VBMP remains a powerful symbol of resilience and the fight for justice in one of the world’s most troubled regions.
