At least 17 mutilated bodies were found, whereas, 53 persons were forcibly disappeared in the month of August alone, according to chilling figures reported by human rights wing of a political party that compiles instances of human rights violations in Balochistan.
Out of 17 bodies, one was mutilated beyond recognition, whereas 53 persons were disappeared during raids and operations that totaled 56, human rights wing of Baloch National Movement (BNM) reported in its monthly report of August.
The reported figures suggest that on average at least two operations/raids are carried and two persons are disappeared every day. Whereas, every alternate day a dead body is discovered in Balochistan.
BNM said that 53 persons were taken to undisclosed places after disappearance by state forces.
During the 56 raids, at least 84 houses were ‘looted’ and 14 were ‘burnt down into ashes’, the report read.
BNM said that one of the bodies recovered during August was that of a BNM member Mohammad Baksh, who had been disappeared in 2015 by Pakistani intelligence agencies.
“Due to intensification of military operations at least 70 families were forced to migrate from their ancestral lands in Jhao, Awaran,” the report said.
The report also confirmed that at least 24 people were released during the month of August. However, BNM’s spokesperson Dil Murad Baloch said that release of only few and disappearance of many is a ‘cunning tactic’ of Pakistani forces to divert international attention from the grave situation in Balochistan.
“Pakistan is involved in war crimes in Balochistan. Enforced disappearances and torture-murder of missing persons has become a routine in Balochistan,” accused Dil Murad Baloch.
BNM said it compiles monthly report to inform the international media and human rights watchers about the ‘humanitarian crisis in Balochistan’.