A human rights organization has written to the Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Sindh province expressing worry about the enforced disappearance of Dad Shah, a 38-year-old Baloch man from Karachi. Dad Shah was taken from his home on April 21 by personnel believed to be from Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Amnesty International highlighted that Dad Shah’s family faced obstacles in seeking an investigation into his disappearance and that his sister and mother were mistreated and detained by police when attempting to hold a press conference.
Amnesty International revealed that Dad Shah had been previously subjected to enforced disappearance in August 2023 and pressured to silence his sister’s human rights advocacy. Concerns are heightened due to his health issues and past experiences. Dad Shah, who worked at a family-owned shop in Karachi, is the brother of Fozia Baloch, a prominent human rights defender associated with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. The organization called on Pakistani authorities to disclose Dad Shah’s location, protect him from harm, and ensure his access to healthcare.
The rights body urged for Dad Shah’s immediate release and emphasized that he should not face false charges to suppress his activism. Amnesty International demanded a thorough investigation into his disappearance, focusing on the alleged involvement of Counter Terrorism Department personnel. They also called for accountability for those responsible and an end to harassment or reprisals against Dad Shah’s family.
