Baloch Families Protest In Islamabad For 34 Days

“34 Days of Silence: Baloch Families Protest in Islamabad for Missing Loved Ones”

Islamabad, Pakistan (August 2025):
For more than a month, the heart of Pakistan’s capital has witnessed a silent yet powerful protest. Hundreds of Baloch families—women, children, and the elderly—have been sitting in Islamabad’s harsh conditions for 34 consecutive days, demanding the release of their missing sons, brothers, and leaders. Yet, in this prolonged period of resistance, no top leader of the Pakistani government has come forward to meet them, and their voices remain unanswered.

At the center of their demand lies one of South Asia’s most pressing human rights concerns—enforced disappearances in Balochistan.

📌 A Crisis Measured in Numbers

According to the Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB), at least 1,713 Baloch youth have gone missing in the past three years, with over 390 cases recorded in 2024 alone. Families allege that most of these individuals are being held in secret detention by the Pakistani Army or intelligence agencies (ISI)—without charges, trials, or due process.

These disappearances, locals argue, are part of a broader campaign to silence voices of dissent in Balochistan, a province that has endured decades of political suppression, economic exploitation, and military dominance.

📌 Detention of Non-Violent Leaders

The crisis escalated further when authorities arrested leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), an organization leading peaceful protests for justice. Among them is Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent activist who has become the face of Baloch women’s resistance.

The Pakistani government has accused these leaders of “supporting terrorism.” However, rights groups insist that their only crime has been to peacefully demand accountability for enforced disappearances. The detentions have sparked outrage, further uniting protestors in Islamabad who see the crackdown as an attempt to crush the non-violent struggle.

📌 The Long Shadow of Rebellion

The roots of Balochistan’s conflict run deep. Since 1948, when Balochistan was forcibly merged into Pakistan, waves of armed rebellions have erupted. The region has seen five major insurgencies, each met with heavy military operations.

1948: The first rebellion began soon after annexation.
1962: Another uprising erupted over land disputes and cantonment expansion.
1973–77: The Bhutto government’s dismissal of Balochistan’s elected government triggered armed resistance.
2000–Present: The most enduring rebellion began under General Pervez Musharraf, fueled by the controversial Gwadar Port project and the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006.

Groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) emerged during this period, later declared terrorist organizations by both Pakistan and the United States.

Today, this fifth wave of rebellion continues, leaving Balochistan in a state of civil war-like conditions.

📌 A Province Rich in Resources, Poor in Justice

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, holding gold, copper, uranium, rare minerals, and vast gas reserves. The Reko Diq mine in Chagai district alone contains 25.6 billion pounds of copper and 414 metric tonnes of gold. The nearby Saindak copper-gold project, run by a Chinese company (MCC), also generates billions in revenue.

Yet, locals see little benefit. Balochistan receives only 2% royalties from these projects. Basic infrastructure—roads, schools, and hospitals—remains in shambles, while military cantonments outnumber health facilities in many districts.

This stark inequality fuels resentment, with many Baloch accusing Islamabad of exploiting their resources while denying them rights.

📌 The Gwadar Question

The construction of Gwadar Port, now part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was a turning point in the Baloch struggle. Fishermen and locals warned that the port would threaten their livelihoods. Today, nearly 60–70% of traditional fishing zones are restricted, and locals are barred from access due to security perimeters.

For Islamabad and Beijing, Gwadar is a strategic and economic jewel. For the Baloch, it is a symbol of dispossession—a development project that benefits outsiders while marginalizing locals.

📌 Sui Gas: A Tale of Injustice

Ironically, the Sui gas field in Balochistan provides fuel to nearly all of Pakistan. Yet, over 95% of Baloch households have no gas connection. Families rely on wood for cooking while their natural resources heat homes in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This injustice, activists argue, represents the broader pattern: wealth leaves Balochistan, poverty stays behind.

📌 Human Cost of Civil War

The ongoing insurgency has exacted a devastating human toll.

In 2024 alone, more than 50 Pakistani soldiers and paramilitary troops have been killed in attacks by Baloch fighters.
Dozens of civilians have lost their lives in clashes, bombings, and military crackdowns.

Every funeral deepens the cycle of anger, grief, and rebellion. Balochistan’s youth, denied education and jobs, often turn to armed resistance.

Today, more than 56% of Balochistan’s population remains illiterate, making it South Asia’s least educated region. With unemployment soaring, an estimated 5–6% of Baloch people migrate annually to other provinces or abroad in search of work.

📌 A Region of Camps and Militias

Observers also warn of the militarization of Balochistan beyond the local insurgency. Camps linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and even ISIS affiliates reportedly operate in the province, allegedly tolerated by security agencies seeking to counter Baloch nationalist groups.

This has turned Balochistan into a battleground of proxy forces, further destabilizing the region.

📌 The Protest in Islamabad: A Fight for Recognition

For the protestors in Islamabad, the issue is deeply personal. Mothers hold pictures of their missing sons. Sisters chant slogans for their brothers. Children ask why their fathers have not come home.

Despite the pain, the movement has remained non-violent and resilient. Families vow not to leave until their demands are heard:

Release of missing persons.
Justice for extrajudicial killings.
Freedom for detained BYC leaders.

Yet, the government’s silence reflects the political establishment’s unwillingness to confront the crisis.

📌 Conclusion: The Agony of Silence

The 34-day protest in Islamabad is not just about missing persons—it is about the soul of Balochistan. A province rich in resources yet poor in dignity, where gas burns in distant cities while local stoves remain cold, where gold is exported abroad but children cannot read, where calls for justice are met with silence.

As families continue their vigil, the question remains: How long can Pakistan ignore the voices of its most marginalized citizens?

For now, the tents in Islamabad stand as a testament to pain, patience, and defiance—a quiet storm in the capital that refuses to fade.