Enforced disappearances: ‘Missing’ Baloch brothers returned to family

LAHORE: Two Baloch students who went ‘missing’ from Karachi’s Maddu Goth on Thursday have returned home on Saturday, confirmed a relative of the family.

Mumtaz Sajidi Baloch, an MA International Relations student of Karachi University, and his brother Kamran Sajidi, an intermediate graduate, were reportedly picked up by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) personnel in plainclothes, accompanied by a heavy contingent of police from their residence, located just around the University Road, on Thursday.

The return of the missing students has also been confirmed by their family. A family member, while talking to Pakistan Today, said that Mumtaz and Kamran both came back home safe and sound, adding that they were kept in Karachi during the two-day long period of their confinement.

However, both brothers have not broken a word on the identity of their captors, the family member added.

Their disappearance came after a Karachi University student, Sagheer Baloch, was ‘kidnapped’ from the campus less than two months ago.

In the aftermath of their disappearance, Dawn had reported that Mumtaz was not a part of any political organisation, but was active in civil society protests.

After the disappearance, Sindh Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Vice Chairman Asad Iqbal had said that if a crime was committed then these youth should be produced in the court of law.

“Protesting against the ‘disappearance’ of Sagheer Ahmed Baloch was his democratic right,” he added.

“If Baloch students are picked up in this manner, the situation will move towards anarchy,” said the HRCP official.