Voicing concerns over the non-recovery of kidnapped top officials of Gwadar University, leaders of the Academic Staff Associations of Balochistan University have announced protest rallies in all universities in Pakistan’s province on Wednesday. The abduction occurred five days ago when the Vice Chancellor, pro-Vice Chancellor, lecturer, and staff members were taken from a highway in Mastung district while traveling to Quetta. The Academic Staff Association of University of Balochistan and the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (Fapuasa), Balochistan chapter, emphasized the need for the immediate recovery of the officials.
In a joint statement, the leaders urged staff members of universities in Balochistan to join the protest rallies and expressed worry over the government’s delay in finding the kidnapped officials. They highlighted previous attacks on teachers and faculty members in the region, calling for enhanced security measures. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also raised concerns about the security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly questioning the state’s ability to safeguard residents and major highways.
The HRCP emphasized the deteriorating security conditions in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing incidents of enforced disappearances, targeted killings, and militant attacks. The recent alleged abduction of Gwadar University officials in Mastung has raised significant doubts about civilian protection and highway security. The HRCP urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of citizens and investigate all attacks thoroughly.
