Enforced disappearances persist in Balochistan, extending their dark shadow for the past two decades. Accusations against Pakistani intelligence agencies and security forces, made by Baloch nationalists, activists, and human rights organizations, suggest their complicity in these abductions and extrajudicial killings. Despite the Pakistani government’s consistent denial of involvement, mounting evidence presented by these groups paints a different picture.
An in-depth investigation conducted by The Balochistan Post (TBP) into the state of enforced disappearances during the second half of May has revealed the following:
Findings:
During the final two weeks of May, TBP documented numerous cases of enforced disappearances reported from various regions of Balochistan. The gathered reports have shed light on the gravity of the situation, revealing that 18 individuals were forcibly abducted, while 9 were fortunate enough to be released. Additionally, one lifeless body was tragically discovered within the same timeframe. The findings presented herein serve as a continuation of the earlier report covering the first two weeks of May 2023.
Enforced disappearances were reported in the following areas:
• Khuzdar: 8
• Kech: 7
• Panjgur: 2
• Noshki: 1
Additionally, a dead body was discovered in Awaran.
Details of the victims of enforced disappearances
The Balochistan Post verified the status of the following individuals as Baloch missing persons from the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), a human rights campaign group.
- Akhtar: Detained from Buleda on May 18. Still missing
- Haseeb: Detained from Panjgur on May 20. Still missing
- Unknown: An unknown Baloch man was detained from Panjgur. He was released a few hours later
- Waseem: Detained from Kech on May 22. Still missing
- Yar Jan: Detained from Kech on May 22. Still missing
- Aziz: Detained from Kech on May 22. Still missing
- Abdul Basit; Detained from Kech on May 22. Still missing
- Ghafoor: Detained from Kech on May 22. Still missing
- Shabir: Detained from Turbat on May 24. Still missing
- Noman: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released.
- Naveed: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released
- Siraj Ahmed: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released.
- Ali Hassan: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released
- Mir Mohammad: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released
- Abdul Rauf: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released
- Sikander: Detained from Khuzdar on May 26. Later released
- Unknown: An unknown Baloch woman was detained from Khuzdar on May 26. She was later released
- Atif: Detained from Nushki on May 26. Later released
One dead body was discovered in Awaran. As per estimations, he was a Baloch missing person but his clear identification could not be ascertained.