Two individuals, including a teenage student, were killed in separate shooting incidents in Balochistan this week, with local sources alleging the involvement of local militias reportedly backed by Pakistan’s secret agencies.
The first incident occurred in the Sordo area of Panjgur, where a 13-year-old madrassa student, identified as Pazeer, son of Ali Dost, was shot and killed while reportedly collecting bread for his household. Eyewitnesses claimed that the assailants were armed men in plain clothes, travelling in a vehicle, who opened fire on the boy. He died on the spot.
Police confirmed the incident and stated that the body was moved to the teaching hospital in Panjgur city. However, no arrests have been made as of yet.
In a separate incident in Hoshab, Kech district, a young man identified as Daulat, son of Char Shambay, was shot dead outside a shop on Wednesday morning. According to local sources, the assailants arrived on a motorbike and fired on the victim before fleeing the scene.
In both cases, regional sources and human rights activists have accused so-called “death squads”—locally used terminology for armed groups allegedly operating with unofficial support from state authorities—of carrying out the attacks.
These groups are often described as operating in plain clothes, reportedly with unofficial ties to security institutions, and are frequently seen in sensitive areas carrying weapons. Allegations against them include involvement in targeted killings, abductions, and enforced disappearances, particularly targeting Baloch nationalists, human rights defenders, and civilians.
Such groups are often accused by activists and residents of functioning as proxies or contractors for tasks that the state itself does not openly undertake. Despite public outcry and repeated protests by local communities, residents report a lack of accountability and, in some cases, fear reprisals for speaking out.
These incidents come amid ongoing concerns from both local and international human rights organisations over the presence and alleged activities of non-state and semi-state armed actors in Balochistan. The broader region has witnessed similar episodes over the years, contributing to a climate of fear and mistrust between residents and the authorities.
There has been no official confirmation regarding the identity of the attackers in either case, and no public statements have been issued by provincial or federal security agencies addressing the specific allegations.