A protest rally was held in the Mand Balochabad area of Kech district, Balochistan, demanding the recovery of three men allegedly subjected to enforced disappearance following their reported detention by Pakistan armed forces.
The missing individuals were identified as Fahad son of Usman, Hamood son of Mohammad Jan, and Haroon son of Mohammad. According to local residents, the three were allegedly taken into custody by Pakistani forces on the night of 23 October, after which their whereabouts remain unknown.
several families, including women and children, participated in the rally, carrying banners and placards calling for the immediate release of the missing men. Protesters appealed to the government and higher authorities to ensure the safe recovery of those who have been disappeared.
Enforced disappearances have long been a deeply contentious issue in Balochistan, where families frequently accuse state security agencies of detaining individuals without charge. Over the past two decades, numerous protests and sit-ins have taken place across Balochistan, led by families seeking information about their missing relatives.
Local human rights groups, including the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), have documented thousands of such cases, though Pakistani official figures differ significantly. Rights organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly raised concerns over the issue, urging Pakistani authorities to investigate allegations of enforced disappearances, ensure accountability, and end the practice of secret detentions.
Pakistani authorities, however, have consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that many of the missing persons have either joined insurgent groups or are living abroad.
Despite these denials, protests by families of the disappeared continue to be a regular feature of Balochistan’s civic life, with campaigners emphasising the need for justice, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law.