Three Baloch men have reportedly been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani security forces in the districts of Panjgur and Khuzdar, Balochistan, according to local sources.
The individuals have been identified as Ali Haider, Siraj Rasheed, and Shahab. Ali Haider was reportedly detained during a raid on his home in the Korsak area of Khuzdar on the night of October 16 and was transferred to an unknown location.
In a separate incident, Siraj Rasheed and Shahab were reportedly detained three days ago in the Parom area of Panjgur. According to their families, the two were returning from a trip to Zamuran when they were detained. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Baloch Voice for Justice Raises Alarm Over Disappearances
The human rights group, Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ), has raised concerns over what it describes as a “surge” in enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The group claims that at least 18 Baloch individuals have been disappeared over the past week, in areas including Turbat, Karachi, Hub, and Panjgur.
According to BVJ, eight students were reportedly detained by Pakistani forces in Karachi on October 16. The students include Shoaib Ali, Haneef Badal, Ishfaq Khalid, Shehzad Khalid, Beebgar Amir, Zubair Karim, Qambar Ali, and Saeed Ullah.
Related:Karachi: Eight Baloch Students ‘Forcibly Disappeared’, BYC Claims Retaliation for Security Failures
BVJ also reported the detention of four individuals from a hotel in Karachi’s Saddar area, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. The organization has called for urgent action to address the escalating number of enforced disappearances in the region.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch Condemns Disappearances
Prominent Baloch activist, Dr. Mahrang Baloch, has condemned the recent disappearances, particularly of students. In a statement, she expressed concern over what she described as systematic targeting by state security forces.
“While Pakistan hosts international conferences, it is simultaneously committing severe human rights violations in Balochistan,” Dr. Baloch said. “In recent days, dozens of Baloch students have been subjected to enforced disappearances in cities like Karachi and Lahore, as well as in various regions of Balochistan.”
She emphasized that Baloch students are especially vulnerable, stating, “State security forces continue to abduct them indiscriminately—without warrants, FIRs, or evidence—at any time and from any location.”
Appeal to International Community
Both BVJ and Dr. Mahrang Baloch have called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene.
Dr. Baloch urgently appealed to the international community and human rights organizations to take immediate action, warning that the systematic targeting of Baloch students was an attempt to silence and intimidate an entire generation.
“These enforced disappearances not only violate fundamental human rights and the rule of law but also plunge families into despair and uncertainty. The world cannot afford to ignore these injustices,” she said,
BVJ referred to UN General Assembly Resolutions 65/209 and 69/180, which obligate states to protect individuals from enforced disappearances.
In its statement, BVJ warned that the neglect of human rights violations in Balochistan has contributed to a growing humanitarian crisis. They urged international bodies to hold the Pakistani government accountable for these violations and to take action to prevent further disappearances.