A sharp rise in alleged extrajudicial killings of forcibly disappeared persons in Balochistan has sparked widespread concern, with at least 12 individuals reported killed in what families and rights groups are calling “staged encounters” over the past two days.
According to reports emerging from Barkhan, Khuzdar, Mashkay, and Buleda, security forces have killed several previously missing persons in disputed clashes. Victims’ families and local sources claim these individuals had been in state custody before being executed and their bodies dumped.
In the latest incident, three bullet-riddled bodies were recovered on Monday from Mehma Samand Khan in Barkhan. The deceased were identified as Haq Nawaz Buzdar, Shero Buzdar, and Gul Zaman Buzdar, all from the Buzdar tribe. Local sources said Haq Nawaz was picked up from his home in Musakhel district on April 5, while Shero had been missing for the past nine months. Gul Zaman had also reportedly been in custody prior to the killing. Security forces have not issued any statement confirming a clash in the area.
Meanwhile, in Buleda’s Gardank area, two young men — Mehrab s/o Rehamdil and Khan Mohammad s/o Haibtan — were allegedly detained from their homes on the morning of April 6 and killed hours later. Both were cousins, and their families claim they were tortured to death. Authorities have reportedly refused to hand over their bodies, leading to unrest in the region.
On April 5, security forces also claimed to have killed three suspects in a clash in Baghbana, Khuzdar. One of the deceased was identified as 28-year-old Abdul Malik s/o Mohammad Yousaf from Kohing, Kalat. He had allegedly been forcibly disappeared from Turbat on October 11, 2024.
That same day, three more bodies were found in Mashkay, all showing signs of gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as Zahoor s/o Huzoor, Shah Nawaz s/o Jalal, and Habib s/o Eido. Families and activists accuse the state of carrying out extrajudicial executions and dumping the bodies.
In another case reported Monday, Nadir Baloch from Kandhari, Mashkay, was abducted from his home during a raid by security forces on April 6. A day later, his bullet-riddled body was found in a remote area.
These incidents are the latest in a disturbing pattern across Balochistan, where families of missing persons and Baloch political groups say enforced disappearances are followed by fake encounters. While security agencies often link the deceased to armed groups, families and human rights defenders reject these claims, calling the killings state-sanctioned and unlawful.
Rights groups have long demanded transparency and independent investigations into these killings, but accountability remains elusive as the cycle of disappearances and violence continues unabated.