Missing and believed dead – Baloch youth is alive

Engineer Zaheer Baloch, a youth from Balochistan who was claimed to have been a missing person and presumed killed by security forces in Ziarat operation, is alive, as he appears on a TV channel, narrating his ordeal following his arrest in Iran.

There has been incessant propaganda on the purported death of Baloch. The family had claimed that Zaheer Baloch, 26, went missing in October last year. In December a first information report (FIR) was also lodged. Later it was claimed that he was killed by ‘‘security forces in Ziarat operation’’.

Express News showed Baloch as stating in a news conference that he wanted to go to Europe via Iran. He added that he was caught by Iranian forces after crossing the Taftan border point. Months later, he was released and came back to the country. Baloch said that he had no affiliation with any group.

In the FIR, Baloch’s brother alleged that he had been kidnapped. Baloch’s sister, Uzma Baloch had tweeted on January 23, 2022 that her brother had been kidnapped from near his office on Airport Road Quetta on October 7, 2021.

In a separate video statement Baloch’s mother confirmed that her son had returned. “Zaheer Jan was going to Europe. He was captured by Iranian forces. He was in Iranian captivity for nine months and now they have released him,” she said. “My children have no connection whatsoever with any organisation.”

About the claims of Baloch’s alleged death, the mother said that the body had some marks on his nose and face, therefore, her children thought he could be their brother. “They brought the body home and we arranged the funeral and offered Fateha,” she added.

At the news conference, Baloch said that he wanted to clear misconceptions about his disappearance. “I did not know what was going on in my absence,” he said. “I’m a businessman, I have no affiliation with any organisation. I’m not against any institution,” he added.

Read more: Video footages, confessions expose Baloch 'missing persons' claim