Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day
Culture of origin: Baloch · Historical
Holiday sources: Baloch
On 8 January 2025, at Dasht Kabristan, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), led by Mahrang Baloch, declared 25 January Baloch Genocide Memorial Day, for the Baloch it counts as victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, many buried in unmarked graves. The date marks the finding of mass graves at Tootak in Khuzdar district in January 2014, which the BYC says held over 100 mutilated bodies of Baloch disappeared by Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies. Officials spoke of 13 bodies; a judicial commission under Justice Noor Muhammad Maskanzai of the Balochistan High Court found no evidence that the armed forces or intelligence agencies were involved, and the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons rejected its report. On the first observance, 25 January 2025, thousands gathered in Dalbandin, while internet and mobile services were shut down in Chagai, Noshki, Kharan and other towns of Rakhshan division.
Sources
- BYC announces January 25 as Baloch Genocide Memorial Day to honour victims of enforced disappearances (The Tribune, India, January 2025)
- Thousands rally in Dalbandin to mark Baloch Genocide Day, demand justice (The Friday Times, 26 January 2025)
- Mass graves in Tootak (Dawn, March 2014)
- Judicial commission rules out the involvement of armed forces and security agencies in Khuzdar mass grave case (SATP, 20 August 2014)
Next date
- 5 Bahman · Vohu Manah · January 25 · in 72 days