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Urgent Action: Reveal the fate of Dad Shah

172 days left to demand change

Dad Shah is the brother of well-known human rights defender, Fozia Baloch. On 21 April, he was forcibly disappeared from his home in Karachi.

Despite the presence of multiple eyewitnesses of his abduction, the police have failed to adequately investigate his case.

Since then, his family members have been harassed and arbitrarily detained by law enforcement for seeking answers. They have no idea where he is or what happened to him.

This is not the first time Dad Shah has been subjected to enforced disappearance. His sister, Fozia Baloch, is a prominent human rights activist who campaigns for families searching for disappeared loved ones. In August 2023, Dad Shah was taken by the authorities and reportedly pressured during his detention to silence his sister's advocacy. This latest disappearance appears to be part of a wider crackdown on activism in Balochistan.

Dad Shah has multiple allergies and hasn't been seen or heard from since his disappearance. His family is worried about his health, and they need and deserve answers.

Contact the High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK to demand that the authorities reveal Dad Shah’s whereabouts, release him, and end reprisals against him and his family.

Download the full Urgent Action here.

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Target: His Excellency Dr Mohammad Faisal

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Dear His Excellency Dr Mohammad Faisal,

I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the enforced disappearance of Dad Shah, a 38-year-old Baloch man from Karachi, and the subsequent harassment and intimidation of his family. Dad Shah was taken on 21 April by personnel reportedly from the Counter Terrorism Department, accompanied by individuals in civilian clothing, from his family home. Since that time, his whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities have failed to disclose any information regarding his fate or location.

Dad Shah’s family initially faced resistance from the police to adequately investigate his disappearance, and the police have failed to name state authorities in the eventual criminal report. On 25 April, Dad Shah’s sister, human rights defender Fozia Baloch, and mother were prevented from holding a press conference, subjected to ill-treatment, and arbitrarily detained by police. Such actions appear to constitute reprisals against family members simply for advocating for the rights of their family members and amount to interference with their right to freedom of expression.

This is not the first time Dad Shah has been subjected to enforced disappearance. He was forcibly disappeared in August 2023 and reportedly pressured during his detention to silence his sister’s advocacy for human rights in Balochistan. He suffers from multiple allergies and his family worries for his health as he remains missing. This history heightens concerns for his safety and the risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

Therefore, I urge you to:
- Immediately disclose Dad Shah’s whereabouts, ensure he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and that he provided access to adequate healthcare;
- Ensure that he is released immediately and not subject to trumped up charges solely to silence him and his family’s activism;
- Conduct a prompt, independent, and impartial investigation into his enforced disappearance, including the alleged involvement of CTD personnel, and hold those suspected to be responsible to account in fair proceedings;
- End all forms of harassment, intimidation, or reprisals against Dad Shah’s family.

I trust your commitment to justice and human rights will guide your actions to urgently address these grave concerns.

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