Levies personnel in the coastal city of Gwadar, Balochistan, have refused to report for duty, protesting the alleged enforced disappearance of two colleagues by Pakistani security forces.
According to reports, two Levies officials, Doda Khalid and Zakir Yaqoob, were detained by Pakistani security and intelligence personnel in Gwadar’s New Town area on September 27. Three civilians—Meraj Noor Bakhsh, Ijaz Hussain, and Ayub Hamza—were also reportedly taken during the incident, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
On Thursday, Levies personnel gathered outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, demanding the immediate release of their missing colleagues. They vowed to continue their protest until Khalid and Yaqoob are safely returned.
Balochistan has long faced the issue of enforced disappearances, with individuals allegedly detained by state agencies without due process. Human rights groups claim that thousands of Baloch men, activists, and students have disappeared over the years. Families often spend years searching for their loved ones with little information about their fate.
The disappearance of Levies personnel in Gwadar has heightened concerns, highlighting that not only activists and civilians but also local security officials are being targeted in enforced disappearances by Pakistani security forces and intelligence agencies.