Appointment of Sarfaraz Bugti to lead enforced disappearances committee draws massive criticism
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The selection of Sarfaraz Bugti as the leader of a recently formed committee on enforced disappearances by Pakistan’s caretaker government has stirred controversy and faced criticism in Balochistan. Bugti, presently acting as the caretaker Interior Minister, is a divisive figure due to alleged connections with “death squads” in Balochistan and his public positions on enforced disappearances.
The committee, consisting of the Interior, Law, and Defence Ministers, was established following the federal cabinet’s approval on November 7. The objective of this initiative is to address the persistent issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, an area plagued by such cases for an extended period. However, the decision to appoint Bugti as its head has raised concerns among various stakeholders, including human rights activists and Baloch nationalist leaders.
Sammi Deen Baloch, General Secretary of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) and daughter of the missing Dr. Deen Mohammad, expressed doubt about the committee’s efficacy. She pointed to the unsuccessful outcomes of previous commissions, such as COIOED and a commission led by Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal appointed by the Islamabad High Court. Baloch accused the government of toying with the emotions of the families of missing persons by appointing Bugti, who she claims minimizes the seriousness of enforced disappearances.
Furthermore, Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch, a prominent figure in the Baloch independence movement, called on the United Nations and human rights organizations to take note of Bugti’s appointment. In a statement on the social media platform ‘X’, he described Bugti as a “puppet Interior Minister” and the leader of a state-backed “Death Squad.” Dr. Allah Nazar Baloch emphasized that Pakistan’s choice of Bugti for the missing persons committee signifies its disregard for human rights conventions in Balochistan, an action he believes should alert the international community to the situation.
This development has sparked strong reactions from Baloch nationalists and relatives of the missing, who harbor doubts about the new committee’s potential to bring about substantive change. They argue that Bugti’s appointment only serves to undermine the committee’s credibility and effectiveness.
