Female students at the University of Balochistan have accused Pakistani security forces of harassment during a recent raid on the girls’ hostel, claiming they were targeted under the guise of a drug search and subjected to profiling.
The students allege that personnel in Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) uniforms entered the hostel and specifically targeted Baloch students for profiling. According to eyewitnesses, the forces asked irrelevant and personal questions while filming the students.
One student questioned why only Baloch female students were being investigated, stating, “There have been no complaints related to drugs in the hostel. This appears to be about profiling us, not searching for narcotics.” The students described the actions as illegal and unjust, adding that such operations were creating an atmosphere of fear and making it difficult for them to focus on their studies.
The incident has drawn widespread criticism from various groups, who claim the raid has further intensified fear and intimidation on campus.
The Baloch Women Forum condemned the raid in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the authorities of “militarizing” educational institutions and infringing on students’ security.
“Law enforcement agencies, disguised as the Anti-Narcotics Force, entered the girls’ hostel under the guise of a drug search,” the Forum said. “Students were asked inappropriate questions, including, ‘Why don’t you respect uniformed men?'”
The BWF added that such actions are likely to increase fear among students and called on the authorities to stop “terrorizing” the university environment.
Uzair Baloch, Information Secretary of the Baloch Students Action Committee, echoed these concerns in a separate post on X. He described the raid as an attempt to profile and harass Baloch students. “The forces entered the hostel in Anti-Narcotics Force uniforms, gathering Baloch students for irrelevant questioning and filming,” he wrote. He also reported that security forces had visited other university departments the day before, asking students unrelated questions.
Uzair Baloch questioned the necessity of such raids in an educational setting, noting that similar operations are not conducted in areas of Quetta where drug use is more common. “This is a systematic and masked way to profile and harass Baloch students,” he added.
Both the Baloch Women Forum and the Baloch Students Action Committee have called for an end to these actions, urging the authorities to ensure a safe environment where students can pursue their education without fear of harassment.