Pakistan: Marching for the thousands who disappeared in Balochistan - BBC News

Families believe thousands of people have been picked up and forcibly disappeared by Pakistan's army.

14 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Sammi Deen Baloch Image caption, Sammi Deen Baloch (right) holds up a photograph of her father, who had been missing since 2009By Kelly NgBBC NewsPakistan is dominated by news of politics as it prepares for general elections next week. But when hundreds of citizens marched on the capital Islamabad in December, they did so with a completely different agenda.

Among them was Sammi Deen Baloch, hugging a laminated photograph of her father - as she had done on numerous occasions over the past 14 years - and demanding to know where he is.

Or if he is even still alive.

The 26-year-old is one of several women who led the march, which saw protesters walk almost 1,000 miles from the restive Balochistan province, demanding the whereabouts of family members whom they say have been "forcibly disappeared". At least 200 people were arrested and police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

Campaigns like this are routine in the conflict-ridden province and women play a key part in organising them.

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