A young woman identified as Halima, daughter of Dost Muhammad, was reportedly detained by Pakistani forces in the Parom area of Panjgur on Tuesday, before being released hours later. Security personnel also briefly detained Tariq, son of Haji Mahmood, who, according to local sources, had previously been subjected to enforced disappearance.
Halima is the daughter of Dost Muhammad, who served as an officer in the Omani Army. In February 2012, he was allegedly taken into custody by Pakistani intelligence personnel at Karachi Airport while returning from vacation. While another relative taken with him was later released, Dost Muhammad’s whereabouts remain unknown.
No official statement has been issued by Pakistani authorities regarding the detentions of Halima and Tariq. Activists condemned the incident, saying such short-term arrests contribute to a broader pattern of psychological pressure on families seeking information about loved ones who have long been missing.
Paank Condemns ‘Systematic Harassment’
Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), denounced the incident, calling it a “blatant violation of fundamental rights.”
In a post on X, Paank noted that Tariq had previously been subjected to enforced disappearance, and that Halima’s father remains missing after more than a decade. The statement also pointed out that Tariq’s brother, Dosta, was killed in a drone strike last year along with his family, further deepening the family’s suffering.
Paank labeled the episode an example of “inhumane disregard for justice and accountability” and urged the international community to address ongoing human rights violations in Balochistan. The group emphasized that “the perpetrators of such inhumane practices must be held accountable” and that families of the disappeared must be treated with “respect and dignity.”
Three Previously Missing Individuals Return Home
Meanwhile, three individuals who had reportedly been forcibly disappeared in Noshki and Gwadar have returned home. Naqeeb Jamaldini, who had been missing for two years after being detained in Noshki, has rejoined his family. Similarly, Zakir Somar and Naseem Hameed, allegedly abducted from Ghatti Dhor Chowk in Gwadar, have also been released.
Ongoing Concerns Over Enforced Disappearances
Balochistan has long grappled with the issue of enforced disappearances, with both local and international rights organizations calling on Pakistani authorities to investigate and hold those responsible to account. Families of the missing have staged protests and sit-ins, demanding justice for their loved ones.
On January 25, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) held a large public gathering in Dalbandin commemorating “Baloch Genocide Remembrance Day,” drawing tens of thousands despite an internet shutdown and significant security presence. Speakers demanded accountability and international scrutiny over alleged rights violations, including enforced disappearances.
Pakistani officials repeatedly deny any direct involvement in enforced disappearances, insisting that counter-insurgency operations only target individuals associated with militancy. Activists, however, maintain that cases like the brief detention of Halima and Tariq point to a broader pattern of intimidation against families already bearing the trauma of missing loved ones.