Violence and enforced disappearances continue to grip various parts of Balochistan, as incidents from Panjgur, Quetta, and Kech highlight the ongoing instability in the region.
In Panjgur’s Washbod area, a targeted shooting occurred on the evening of April 7, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to three others. The deceased has been identified as Bahadur Shafi, brother of lecturer Muslim Shafi. The injured individuals—Sohail, Shahid, and Farhan—are reportedly relatives of the victim. All were rushed to the District Teaching Hospital following the attack.
According to local sources, the assailants were allegedly members of a state-backed armed group commonly referred to as a “death squad”, which has been accused of involvement in numerous such attacks in the region under alleged protection from Pakistani law-enforcement forces.
Meanwhile, in Quetta’s Sariab Customs area, Pakistani security forces reportedly detained Chief Safar Baloch from his shop. Since his arrest, the family claims there has been no information on his whereabouts. They have appealed to the authorities for his safe recovery, expressing concern over his enforced disappearance.
In a related development, a young man previously reported as missing has returned home safely. The youth, identified as Taif, son of Tariq, a resident of Kalaho, had been forcibly disappeared allegedly by Pakistan security forces on February 20, 2025, from the Tump Balicha area of Kech district. After over a month in unknown detention, he has now been released and reunited with his family.
These incidents reflect the broader pattern of lawlessness, extrajudicial practices, and human rights violations frequently reported in Balochistan. While some disappearances end in safe recovery, others lead to prolonged detentions or, in many tragic cases, targeted killings that deepen the region’s crisis of insecurity and mistrust.