GILGIT: The family and relatives of Waseem Akram, a resident of Gilgit-Baltistan, have called for urgent action to find him after he went missing in Balochistan last month. The family fears he has been abducted by militant groups in the province.

According to family sou­rces, Mr Akram, 25, from Yasin Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, left home on Aug 24 in search of employment. He later contacted a travel agent from Gujrat as part of a plan to cross the Pakistan-Iran border and reach Italy illegally via Iraq.

Mr Akram, along with two companions from Punjab, departed for Balochistan. His uncle, Younas Ali, told Dawn the family last heard from Mr Akram on the morning of Aug 25, when he called from Dalbandin in Balochistan.

Since then, all contact has been lost. A video, released the same day, reportedly shows Mr Akram and his companions at an unknown location, raising fears that they have been abducted.

Protests demanding Mr Akram’s release have been held in Yasin and outside the Gilgit Press Club. Members of the Yasin Youth Organisation, political activists and concerned citizens have joined these demonstrations, demanding that the government take immediate steps to secure the release of Mr Akram and his colleagues.

Ehsan Ali, chairman of the Awami Action Committee, and other political leaders, including Aslam Inqalabi, spoke at the protests. They urged the government to act swiftly to locate the missing youth. They expressed fears that militant groups may have abducted Mr Akram and may exploit him for terrorist activities or ransom.

Speakers noted that several militant organisations, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), are active in the region. These groups often target individuals for forced recruitment or ransom, the speakers said, adding that these militants force women into their ranks, blackmailing families through obscene videos.

Mr Akram’s family has filed FIRs with various police stations and urged the Army chief, the prime minister and the Balochistan government to intervene.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2024