July 20, 2006

Daily Times

By Malik Siraj Akbar

Senator Sanaullah Baloch’s Brother

Returns Home

Obaidullah Baloch

QUETTA: A younger brother of Senator Sanaullah Baloch who had been missing since July 16 returned on Wednesday, claiming he had been kept in detention by military police. However, the whereabouts of his other brother are still unknown.

Obaidullah, 26, told a press conference that intelligence agencies were responsible for “kidnapping” his brother, 24-year old Samiullah, and demanded his freedom. “My brother is a social activist and has no political affiliations. He is only being punished for being Sanaullah’s brother,” he said. “My brother was picked up by intelligence personnel forcefully on July 16 as we were on our way back home from Quetta Airport in my car. About eight armed men in two vans stopped us and took my brother by force.”

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party, said the government was engaged in the “worst form of political victimisation”. He said a meeting of all parties would be convened soon to decide the future course of action.