The longstanding issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan remains a major concern, with recent cases emerging from the Kech, Sibi, and Gwadar districts. These incidents highlight the escalating human rights challenges in the region.
In Turbat, the central city of the Kech district, Samad, son of Asa, from the Gorkop Densar area, was reportedly detained by Pakistani forces on November 19 and has been missing since then.
Similarly, in the Sibi district, Atwar, son of Hazar Khan from Lehri Ghodi, was detained on November 20 following a raid on his home. Atwar, who is physically disabled, has not been seen since his detention. This case is particularly concerning given that one of his brothers was previously allegedly killed by Pakistani forces.
In Gwadar, Bilal, son of Ahmad, a 16-year-old resident of the VTC Colony, was taken into custody by security forces on November 20 and remains missing. In addition, two young men, Habib, son of Dr. Rahmatullah, and Ali, son of Juma, have also been reported missing under similar circumstances, deepening the sense of unease in the coastal city.
In a contrasting development, Naseer Ahmed, son of Faqir Muhammad, was released in Turbat after a six-month disappearance. He had reportedly vanished in May while traveling from Nasirabad Kech to the border, marking a rare positive outcome amidst the prevalent disappearances.
Following these reported cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, a significant protest was organized in Turbat, Kech district. Relatives of the missing, along with activists and leaders from various social and political groups, gathered at Shaheed Fida Chowk on Monday. They voiced their dissent and demanded the recovery of all missing persons.
Speakers at the rally, including Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman and Professor Ghani Parwaz, emphasized the dire consequences of the enforced disappearances of Baloch youth. They condemned the state’s actions as breeding distrust and disharmony and called for the missing individuals to be either legally processed or immediately recovered.
The series of enforced disappearances and the public outcry in Balochistan underscore a deepening crisis of human rights in the region. These developments call for urgent attention and action from both national and international human rights bodies to address and resolve the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.