Missing Baloch students case

The Missing Baloch Students Case refers to a situation in Pakistan where more than 50 students from Balochistan were reported missing. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been involved in the case, issuing directives for the recovery of the students.

Background
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was in the process of adjudicating a case related to the execution of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances' suggestions. This commission, formed in 2011, had the mandate to determine the location of missing individuals and attribute accountability. As per the court's directive, 69 students from Baloch were racially profiled, subjected to harassment, and forcibly disappeared. While some of these students managed to return home, there are still at least 50 who remain unaccounted for.

Hafeez Baloch Case
Abdul Hafeez Baloch, a Baloch student and M.Phil scholar in physics at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, was allegedly subjected to racial profiling and an enforced disappearance. Here's a breakdown of the case details based on news reports:


 * Disappearance: In February 2022, while visiting his hometown Khuzdar, Balochistan, masked men abducted Hafeez from a tuition academy.
 * Baloch Students Council Islamabad Protest: The Baloch Students Council Islamabad (BSC Islamabad) staged a hunger strike for over a month demanding his safe return.
 * Release and Charges: Hafeez was eventually released, but Pakistani security forces reportedly filed fabricated charges against him, labelling him a potential militant.
 * Legal Battle: Hafeez fought the charges in court and was eventually able to prove his innocence.

Additional Points:


 * Hafeez's case highlights the Baloch Students Council's concerns about racial profiling and harassment of Baloch students at universities outside Balochistan.
 * Human rights groups like the Human Rights Council of Balochistan condemned the incident and demanded the withdrawal of the fabricated FIR against Hafeez.

Court proceedings
The Islamabad High Court (IHC), presided over by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, directed the interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to present himself in court on November 29, 2023, unless he could facilitate the return of the missing Baloch students. The court also called upon the Interior Minister, Defence Minister, and Human Rights Minister to attend the hearing. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the progress made by both the commission and the government.

Government response
The Interim Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, gave the Islamabad High Court (IHC) his assurance regarding the recovery of the missing Baloch students. On the other hand, Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar stated that he would not be able to appear before the IHC in relation to the case of the missing Baloch students. He cited his overseas commitment to COP 28 as the reason for his absence but assured that the government would ensure representation in other relevant forums.

Current status
As of 29 November 2023, the IHC has been informed that 22 of the more than 50 missing Baloch students have been recovered. The court has demanded the return of the rest of the students.