Six students from Balochistan who reportedly went missing from their residence in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar on October 16 have now been recovered, while two others remain missing, family sources confirmed.
The students — Qambar Baloch, Saeedullah, Bibagar, Ishfaq, Zeeshan, and Zubair — were allegedly detained by law enforcement agencies during a raid on their shared residence in Rustam Zikri Goth.
While these six have now returned home, two other students, Javed and Haneef, who were reportedly taken at the same time, are still missing.
Three of the students attend Karachi University, three others are enrolled at a local seminary, one is an intermediate student, and another studies at Urdu University.
Following their detention, Karachi University syndicate member Dr. Riaz Ahmed condemned the incident, stating, “It is horrifying that university students are apprehended and disappeared without charge. Students at this young age should not be exposed to the hard face of the state.”
The detentions led Karachi University students to organize a protest rally, demanding clarity on the fate of their colleagues and highlighting concerns over the rising trend of enforced disappearances in Karachi and Balochistan.
In recent weeks, enforced disappearances have surged across Balochistan and Karachi, with over 80 cases reported in October alone. In response, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has called for protests across the region under the theme “Breaking the Silence: Standing Against Enforced Disappearances.”
Rallies have been held in Karachi, Hub, Khuzdar, and Turbat, with participants demanding accountability for missing persons. During protests in Karachi, several demonstrators were reportedly detained by Sindh police, while in Hub, authorities blocked access to Lasbela Press Club. Protests in Turbat and Khuzdar were also met with disruptions, including the suspension of mobile services.