Disappearances – Reports of Detentions Raise Human Rights Concerns in Balochistan
Disappearances – Fresh reports from several districts in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have renewed concerns about alleged enforced disappearances, after multiple individuals were reportedly detained by security personnel in recent days. Local sources claim that several people were taken into custody during security operations and have not been seen since, while a few detainees were later released in separate incidents.
Alleged Detentions Reported Across Several Districts
Accounts from local residents suggest that at least nine individuals were detained from different areas of Balochistan during recent security operations. Following their detention, their whereabouts reportedly became unknown, raising fears among families and community members. At the same time, six individuals who had previously been in custody were later released, according to reports published by The Balochistan Post.
Families of those missing say they have received no official information about the locations or conditions of their relatives. The situation has once again highlighted long-standing concerns raised by rights groups about unexplained detentions in the region.
Late-Night Operation Reported in Gwadar
According to local reports, one of the incidents took place on the night of March 10 in the Panwan locality of Jiwani, located in Gwadar district. Residents claim that security personnel carried out a late-night operation in the area. During the raid, a man identified as Qambar, the son of Imam Baloch, was reportedly taken into custody and moved to an undisclosed location.
Family members say they have not received any information regarding his whereabouts since that night. During the same operation, another local resident, Zaim, the son of Muhammad Raheem, was also reportedly detained. Community members state that he has also remained missing since the incident.
Additional Detention Claims in Turbat and Panjgur
Similar reports have emerged from other parts of the province. In Turbat, located in Kech district, Khalid Habib, the son of Habibullah, was reportedly taken into custody from the Josak Sari Kahn area. According to local accounts, he was moved to an unknown location shortly after being detained.
In Panjgur district, another individual identified as Jasif, the son of Arif, was reportedly apprehended in the Tasp area. Residents claim that following his detention, no information about his location has been made available.
These reports from different districts have added to growing concerns among families and community groups about the safety and legal status of those who have reportedly disappeared.
Reports of Detentions in Quetta and Noshki
Additional cases were also reported in other parts of the province. In the provincial capital Quetta, Nabi Bakhsh Baloch, the son of Behram Baloch, was reportedly taken from his home in the Killi Qambrani neighborhood. Local accounts state that he was moved to an undisclosed location after being detained.
Meanwhile, in Noshki district, Mudassir, the son of Faizullah, was reportedly detained from the Killi Jamaldini area. Residents claim that he has not been seen since his detention.
Families in these areas say they are still waiting for confirmation about the status or location of their relatives.
Several Previously Detained Individuals Reportedly Released
Alongside the reports of new detentions, some individuals who had previously been in custody were reportedly released in separate cases.
One such case involved Kaleemullah, the son of Asadullah and a resident of Khudabadan in Panjgur district. Reports indicate that he was released in Hub Chowki after being detained earlier.
Another individual, Zahid, the son of Abdul Rehman from Jiwani, was reportedly released on February 26 following a period in detention. Two other residents of the same town, Adnan and Ahsan, both sons of Dil Murad, were also reportedly freed.
In a separate case, Abdul Wahab, the son of Abdul Ghani and a resident of Greshag in Khuzdar district, was reportedly released in Lahore after being detained earlier.
Families Seek International Attention
Relatives of the missing individuals say they are increasingly concerned about the safety of their family members. Many have appealed to international human rights organisations to take notice of the situation and support efforts to locate those who remain unaccounted for.
Advocacy groups and families continue to call for transparency regarding detention procedures and the whereabouts of those reportedly taken into custody. As these incidents come to light, the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan remains a subject of ongoing scrutiny and concern.