This small ragtag group that started a long journey from Quetta under the banner of The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons has now come close to its destination -- the capital Islamabad and its twin city or the de facto capital Rawalpindi. Despite this unique protest of a group that includes women and children, the media’s attention remained focused elsewhere, largely on the newly initiated negotiations with Taliban.

The group decided to steer clear of the ethno-nationalist uprising because it did not want to complicate matters. It wanted to attract attention to the missing persons in Balochistan and seeks a resolution of that matter alone. The group comprises fathers, mothers, sisters and children of the disappeared people which according to its claims run into thousands.

Media’s indifference aside, it seems the sheer grit and resolve of these unarmed citizens who have been wronged by the state has shaken those sitting in the corridors of power. As they started getting close to the centre of power, Qadeer Baloch started receiving more and more alarming calls and threatening messages.

As Mahvish Ahmad says it is difficult to disconnect the missing persons in the province from the uprising and demands for a separate Balochistan. For all his efforts to the contrary, Mama Qadeer has managed to bring Balochistan to the centre of discussion. No nationalist leader of whatever stature could do what this man and his companions have done.

The attention now is on both everything that is happening and not happening in the province. For every new announcement of the highways, people are reminded of the development projects that did not materialise. What about Avaran -- what happened to the earthquake victims? Why is the media so indifferent to the province at all? Why is there no end to the Hazaras’ misery? Who dug the mass graves and buried people in Khuzdar? What do these people want who are blowing up gas pipelines?

The Baloch discontent is shining through from under the carpet. This small ragtag group has done this for its people. It is time to negotiate peace with the Baloch brethren and seek a solution for their discontent.