On June 28, Bibi Nazhatoon, the mother of activist Sammi Deen Baloch, who is missing, commemorated her husband’s 15-year disappearance. 2009 saw the kidnapping of Dr. Deen Baloch, a day his wife recalls as though it were yesterday.
Not only was her life partner taken from her on that awful day, but her identity was also stolen. Bibi Nazhatoon, like with hundreds of other Baloch women, has been living in uncertainty about her status as a widow for the past fifteen years. She has never, ever celebrated a festival like Eid, attended a wedding, or worn colorful clothing.Many women in Pakistan now are living in constant fear, not knowing if their husbands, dads, or brothers are still alive. In the first half of 2024 alone, 197 incidents of missing persons were reported, the most of which were in Balochistan, according to a report this month.
For many years, Pakistan has been plagued by the persistent problem of enforced disappearances. According to the government, the issue cannot be resolved “in a hurry, because of someone’s nervousness, someone talking on social media, or even court orders” and won’t be resolved overnight.
