In recent years, Balochistan has been plagued by a wave of enforced disappearances and kill-and-dumps. These human rights abuses have been committed against a wide range of people, including political activists, students, academics, and journalists. The victims of these abuses are often taken from their homes or workplaces, and they are never seen or heard from again. Their bodies are sometimes found dumped in remote areas, with signs of torture. The perpetrators of these abuses are believed to be Pakistani security forces, but the government and security officials deny any involvement. However, there is overwhelming evidence, collected by rights groups and investigative journalists, that the security forces are responsible for these crimes.
The families of the disappeared demand justice, but their calls have fallen on deaf ears. The government has refused to acknowledge the existence of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, let alone investigate them. Activists argue that the impunity enjoyed by the security forces has only encouraged them to continue these human rights abuses. The people of Balochistan are living in fear, and they are demanding an end to these abuses.
An investigative report by The Balochistan Post on the state of ‘enforced disappearances’ and kill-and-dumps is as follows:
Findings:
The Post documented several cases of enforced disappearances from different areas of Balochistan in the first two weeks of May. The report concluded that at least 18 people were ‘forcibly disappeared’, allegedly by the Pakistani security forces, and 2 dead bodies were found dumped in remote locations.
The disappearances were reported from:
- Khuzdar: 9
- Panjgur: 4
- Noshki: 2
- Awaran: 2
- Mastung: 1
The dead bodies were reportedly found in:
- Panjgur: 1
- Pasni: 1
Details of the victims of enforced disappearances:
Following individuals were forcibly disappeared from different areas of Balochistan in the first two weeks of May. At the time of writing, none of the detainees has been released. The Post also confirmed their status from the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, a human rights group campaigning for the safe release of Baloch missing persons.
- Bashir Ahmed: Detained from Khuzdar on April 30. Still missing
- Asad: Detained from Khuzdar on April 30. Still missing
- Zia: Detained from Panjgur on May 1. Still missing
- Inam Baloch: Detained from Panjgur on May 1. Still missing
- Majid: Detaiend from Panjgur on May 1. Still missing
- Usama: Detained from Noshki on May 1. Still missing
- Naseeb Ullah: Detained from Noshki on May 1. Still missing
- Nadir Hussain: Detained from Khuzdar on May 1. Still missing
- Muhammad Asif: Detained from Khuzdar on May 2. Still missing
- Javed: Detained from Khuzdar on May 2. Still missing
- Fahad: Detained from Khuzdar on May 2. Still missing
- Aslam Kurd: Detained from Mastung on May 1. Still missing
- Javed: Detained from Khuzdar on May 4. Still missing
- Inayat Zehri: Detained from Khuzdar on May 2. Still missing
- Murtaza Zehri: Detained from KHuzdar on May 6. Still missing
- Siraj: Detained from Awaran on May 6. Still missing
- Mehran: Detained from Awaran on May 6. Still missing
- Mujahid: Detained from Panjgur on May 11. Still missing
The two dead bodies were identified as:
- Jamal: Dead body discovered on May 3 in Panjgur
- Ibraheem: Dead body discovered on May 7 in Pasni.