In an incident from the Kech district of Balochistan, unidentified armed individuals abducted a young man in the central city of Turbat. The victim has been identified as Anees, son of Mulla Barkat.
According to local sources, Anees was taken into custody last night at around 8:30 PM in the Seri Kahn area of Turbat. He was reportedly abducted in front of his shop by armed men in a Corolla vehicle. The incident has raised fears among locals, as enforced disappearances remain a recurring issue in the region.
Local sources indicate Pakistani intelligence services’ involvement in the abduction, as this isn’t the first time Anees has faced such an ordeal. Two years ago, on October 14, 2022, he was forcibly disappeared reportedly by Pakistani forces, only to be released a week later on October 21, 2022.
Balochistan has long been a hotspot for enforced disappearances, a practice where individuals are secretly detained by state agencies without due process. Human rights organizations have consistently raised concerns about the situation, alleging that thousands of Baloch men, activists, and students have been forcibly disappeared over the years. Families of the disappeared often spend years searching for their loved ones, with little to no information about their whereabouts or condition.
The conflict in Balochistan stems from a long-standing insurgency, with Baloch armed groups seeking independence from Pakistan. The Pakistani military and intelligence agencies have been accused of using enforced disappearances as a tool to suppress dissent in the region. Despite repeated calls from human rights groups and international organizations, the issue remains unresolved, with the cycle of abductions and recoveries, and extra-judicial killings continuing unabated.
The latest incident involving Anees highlights the persistent insecurity and fear that many Baloch families face, as enforced disappearances show no signs of abating in the region.