Sameer Baloch and his wife, Hani Baloch, are reported to have been abducted from their residence in the city of Iranshahr, Western Balochistan. The incident reportedly occurred during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, with armed men dressed in civilian clothing involved.
Sameer Baloch is identified as the brother of Abdul Rauf Baloch, who was killed in Turbat, Eastern Balochistan, allegedly by state-sponsored religious extremists, after being accused of blasphemy.
The details of the incident remain limited, and the identities of the abductors are still unknown. The motivations behind the kidnapping are also unclear at this time.
In the wake of Abdul Rauf’s killing, protests erupted and condemnations poured from across Balochistan by various groups and activists. A significant rally also unfolded in Turbat city on Tuesday as locals, led by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), took to the streets, protesting the murder of Abdul Rauf, an educator at Bolan School in Turbat.
In a bid to spread their message, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) distributed pamphlets titled, “The Murder of Rauf Baloch and Various State Policies.” This document aimed to underline what the committee views as the state’s[Pakistan] systematic campaign against the Baloch people.