For the past twenty years, Balochistan has been haunted by the persistent scourge of enforced disappearances, leaving a lasting and bleak shadow over the region. Baloch nationalists, activists, and human rights organizations have consistently accused Pakistani intelligence agencies and security forces of involvement in these abductions and unlawful killings. Despite vehement denials from the Pakistani government, the mounting evidence provided by these groups paints a starkly different picture.
An investigation conducted by The Balochistan Post (TBP) into enforced disappearances during the month of March 2024, has uncovered the following:
Findings:
During the month of March 2024, TBP documented numerous cases of enforced disappearances reported from various parts of Balochistan and Pakistan. The data gathered, sheds light on the gravity of the situation, disclosing that 22 individuals were subjected to forced disappearances, while 15 forcibly disappeared individuals were released. Furthermore, 3 dead bodies of the ‘missing’ individuals were discovered.
Most Affected Areas:
The report details enforced disappearances documented in various areas, ranked in descending order according to their frequency.
- Mastung: 3
- Quetta: 3
- Zehri: 3
- Gwadar: 2
- Jahoo: 2
- Khuzdar: 2
- Hub Chowki: 1
- Loralai: 1
- Mach: 1
- Tunsa: 1
- Soorab: 1
- Sargodha: 1
Details of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances:
Bilal Ahmed: Detained from Zehri on March 5. Still missing
Shezad Baloch: Detained from Dera Ghazi Khan on March 8. Later released
Beebarg Bashaam: Detained from Gwadar on March 9. Still missing
Ijaz Baloch: Detained from Gwadar on March 9. Still missing
Shoaib Buzdar: Detained from Tunsa on March 10. Still missing
Khuda-dad Siraj: Detained from Sargodha on March 9. Later released
Abdul Raziq: Detained from Soorab on March 12. Later released
Akhter Shams: Detained from Quetta on March 10. Still missing
Gul Zaman: Detained from Mach on March 13. Still missing
Asif Shawani: Gul Zaman: Detained from Mach on March 13. Still missing
Hussain Khan: Detained from Zehri on March 24. Still missing
Meer Khan: Detained from Zehri on March 24. Still missing
Ameer Ihsaan: Detained from Khuzdar on March 22. Later released
Abdul Hakeem: Detained from Khuzdar on March 22. Later released
Zafar Akber: Detained from Jahoo on March 22. Still missing
Ameer Hamza: Detained from Mastung on March 24. Still missing
Dr Tahir: Detained from Jahoo on March 23. Still missing
Saddam Hussain: Detained from Mastung on March 19. Still missing
Asmat Comrade (Pashtun activist): Detained from Quetta on March 23. Later released
Naqeeb Pashtun (Pashtun activist): Detained from Quetta on March 23. Later released
Ghulamullah Lehri: Detained from Mastung on March 26. Still missing
Behroz Dilawari: Detained from Hub on March 30. Later released