Mama Qadeer Baloch passes away | The Express Tribune

QUETTA:

Mama Qadeer Baloch, a leading advocate for the families of missing persons in Balochistan and vice chairman of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, has passed away following a prolonged illness.

His death marks the end of a life dedicated to patient, nonviolent activism. Born Abdul Qadeer Baloch, he led a quiet life as a bank employee until 2009, when his son, Jalil Reki Baloch, was forcibly disappeared and later found dead.

This personal tragedy became the catalyst for his public struggle for justice. Through the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, Mama Qadeer provided families of the disappeared with a platform, legal awareness, and moral support. The protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club emerged as a powerful symbol of his commitment. Despite harsh weather and declining health, he remained steadfast in his mission.

In 2013, he also participated in a historic long march from Quetta to Islamabad, raising national awareness about enforced disappearances in Balochistan.