Balochistan – Rights Groups Report Surge in Enforced Disappearances
Balochistan – At least fourteen Baloch civilians have allegedly been subjected to enforced disappearance in recent days, according to statements released by prominent rights organisations documenting developments in Balochistan. The groups claim that several of the cases involve students and young men who were taken into custody without formal charges or legal procedure, raising renewed concerns about accountability and due process in the region.
Allegations from Panjgur and Karachi
Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, reported that a 23-year-old man identified as Zulfiqar was taken from the Tasp area of Panjgur district on Friday. The organisation stated that he was allegedly detained by an armed group it described as operating with support from Pakistani forces. His current location remains unknown.
In a separate case, Paank highlighted the disappearance of Zakir Noor, a student originally from Panjgur. According to the group, Noor was taken into custody by state security personnel in Karachi on December 30. The organisation claims he was held without a warrant or formal charges and that no official information has been provided to his family regarding his whereabouts.
Paank said such incidents represent violations of basic legal protections, including safeguards against arbitrary detention under international human rights law. The group also noted what it described as a pattern in which Baloch students and young people are increasingly targeted, particularly in major urban centres such as Karachi.
Late-Night Raids in Hub District
Another rights organisation, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), reported multiple detentions during a late-night operation on February 8 in the Gulshan Amir Abad area of Hub district. According to BVJ, security personnel detained four brothers—Abdul Rab, Muhammad Rahim, Abdul Razzaq and Abdul Malik—along with several of their sons, identified as Shahzaib, Jahangir, Noroz and Shah Mir.
The group further alleged that another civilian, Dad Shah, was also taken during the same operation. Family members told BVJ that women and children present in the homes were subjected to physical mistreatment during the raid. These claims have not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate public response from Pakistani authorities regarding the specific allegations.
BVJ described the reported detentions as part of a broader trend in which entire families are affected by security operations. The organisation called for the immediate disclosure of the detainees’ locations and urged authorities to present them before a court of law if charges exist.
Additional Cases Across the Province
Beyond Hub and Panjgur, BVJ cited three more cases from different districts of Balochistan. On February 9, the group said security forces, including members of the Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies, carried out a raid in Allangi Mashkai in Awaran district. During the operation, a student named Ghalib was reportedly taken into custody. He had recently returned from Quetta to attend a family wedding, according to the organisation.
In another incident on February 10, 26-year-old Yasir Lehri, described as a police constable and photographer, was allegedly detained on Mughalzai Main RCD Road in Kalat district. BVJ claimed that personnel from Military Intelligence and the Frontier Corps were involved in his detention.
Earlier, on January 29, a 22-year-old driver named Afzal was reportedly taken from his home in the Turbat region. BVJ stated that members of the Frontier Corps and intelligence agencies carried out that operation as well.
Growing Calls for Transparency
Both Paank and BVJ have urged authorities to clarify the legal status and whereabouts of those reported missing. They argue that prolonged silence from state institutions deepens anxiety among families and contributes to mistrust in public institutions.
Enforced disappearance remains a sensitive issue in Balochistan, where rights groups have for years documented cases of individuals allegedly taken into custody without formal acknowledgment. While security agencies have previously maintained that operations are conducted in accordance with national law, advocacy organisations continue to press for greater transparency and judicial oversight.
As of now, official confirmation regarding the latest allegations has not been made public. Families of the missing individuals say they are seeking answers and legal recourse while awaiting information about their loved ones.