Two individuals recently killed by the Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in an operation in Quetta’s Hazar Ganji area have been identified by families and advocacy groups as previously Baloch Missing Persons.
The advocacy group, Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), identified one of the deceased as Muhammad Yousuf Nichari. He was reportedly taken from Nichari Abad, Killi Baro on August 26th of this year.
Mohammad Shafi Bangulzai, the second individual, was identified by his family, who allege that Shafi, alongside his brother Mohammad Salman, was taken from their home in Killi Qambrani on August 13. The family claims they were initially assured of Shafi’s release after an investigation. However, they later discovered him deceased following the CTD operation. The whereabouts and status of Mohammad Salman remain unknown.
The CTD had previously stated that both deceased individuals were affiliated with the armed separatist group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and that weapons and motorcycles had been recovered from their possession.
It should be noted that CTD operations in Balochistan have historically faced criticism. Media sources and advocacy groups have frequently challenged the department’s accounts of encounters, suggesting that many of the deceased had been previously reported as missing persons.