The Documentary Podcast Balochistan - the women of the vanished
Jun 10, 2025
Saira Baloch, a determined advocate searching for her missing brother, and Maharang Baloch, a doctor fighting enforced disappearances, share their heart-wrenching stories. They discuss the emotional toll on families in Balochistan dealing with state-sanctioned violence. Saira reveals the challenges mothers and daughters endure while seeking justice, while Maharang highlights their resilience amid tragedy. The narratives expose the deep grief surrounding enforced disappearances, shedding light on the struggles and the enduring hope of the women left behind.
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Saira's Traumatic Morgue Visit
- Saira Baloch visited a morgue at age 15 and encountered severely mutilated bodies of missing men, including her own brother's.
- This traumatic experience haunted her and deepened her resolve to find answers about the disappearances.
Balochistan's Riches and Tragedy
- Balochistan holds massive natural resources yet remains one of Pakistan's poorest provinces.
- Discovery of mass graves with mutilated bodies highlights the brutal reality of enforced disappearances and escalates the crisis.
Maharang's Father's Disappearance
- Maharang Baloch lost her father, a nationalist leader, to disappearance in 2009 and later found his mutilated body.
- Her brother witnessed the arrest and suffers lifelong trauma from that night.