Quetta, July 25: A fresh wave of enforced disappearances in Balochistan has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights groups, who accuse Pakistan’s security forces and affiliated death squads of systematically targeting Baloch civilians, particularly youth and activists.
According to Paank, the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Majid Baloch was recently abducted by Pakistan-backed death squads in the Kech district. His brother, Haatir Baloch, was similarly abducted from their home on June 3, and remains missing.
The family, originally from Gadagi village in Balgatar, was previously displaced by ongoing military operations. “Despite being uprooted from their homeland, they continue to face persecution and harassment,” Paank stated.
The group also condemned the arbitrary arrest of Shalee Baloch, an organiser of the Baloch Women Forum, along with her companions, by Gwadar police. The activists were conducting a peaceful awareness campaign in Surbandar ahead of a scheduled event at the Gwadar Press Club on July 27. Paank labelled the arrests an attempt to suppress Baloch women’s voices and civic activism.
Between July 20 and 23, three more cases of enforced disappearance were reported. Shoaib Baloch was abducted in Panjgur on July 20, Dil Jaan was taken from Minaz Tehsil Buleda in Kech on July 22, and Qamber Noor was forcibly disappeared from his shop in Turbat on July 23.
Paank described the ongoing disappearances as part of a systematic policy of repression, calling it a grave violation of human rights and international law.
The rights body has urged the United Nations and global human rights organisations to intervene and pressure the Pakistani government to end enforced disappearances and hold perpetrators accountable for the continued violence in Balochistan.
