A renewed wave of enforced disappearances has been reported across various districts of Balochistan in recent days, with multiple individuals allegedly detained by Pakistani security forces and subsequently missing. The incidents have sparked protests and renewed calls from human rights groups for transparency and accountability regarding the longstanding issue of enforced disappearances in the region.
According to local sources, security forces detained Faraz, son of Haji Fazal, a resident of Parom Peer Mohammad Bazar in Panjgur, from the Satellite Town area of Quetta on 5 November. His whereabouts remain unknown. Family members stated that Faraz had recently been residing near the Panjgur Tar office and that no information has been provided regarding his condition or location since his disappearance.
In another incident, Chakar, son of Akbar Ali, was reportedly detained during a raid by Pakistani forces’ personnel in the Pedrak area of Kech district and subsequently transferred to an undisclosed location. His family said he was a medical technician student in Quetta who had recently returned home for a short visit. They have denied his involvement in any unlawful activities and appealed to the government and human rights organisations for his immediate release.
Meanwhile, in the industrial city of Hub, armed men in a Corolla car allegedly abducted Maro Pindok after physically assaulting him near Daroo Hotel. His family has demanded his safe recovery.
Reports from Khuzdar’s Nall tehsil indicate that over the past ten days, Pakistani armed forces have allegedly detained and disappeared four young men: Babul, son of Khamisa; Farooq, son of Eid Mohammad; Abdul Sattar, son of Jan Mohammad; and Huzaifa, son of Maulvi Abdul Ghaffar. Residents of Nall held a sit-in protest demanding the recovery of the missing individuals and an end to house raids and violations of privacy.
Separately, in Quetta, the son of police ASI Rahmatullah, Owais Baloch, was reportedly picked up and remains missing. However, two other young men — Nazeer Baloch and Wahab Baloch, who were allegedly detained by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and intelligence agencies from Essa Nagri on 17 October — were released and returned home earlier this week.
On the night of 5 November, Pakistani forces and the CTD allegedly raided a plaza in Quetta, detaining three individuals identified as Dileep; Sahir, son of Abdul Ghani; and Salman Baloch, reportedly residents of Awaran and Kech.
According to the National Democratic Party (NDP), its central vice organiser Salman Baloch and a companion, Dileep Das, have since been released and returned home safely. The party expressed gratitude to those who supported their efforts but condemned the continued practice of enforced disappearances, demanding the release of all missing persons, including Ghani Baloch, Sana Khetran Baloch, and Sahir Baloch, who remains missing.
In Hub Chowki, families of missing persons, including that of Maroof Koh Baloch, staged a protest blocking the main Karachi–Quetta highway. The demonstration caused traffic disruption as protesters demanded the immediate recovery of the disappeared youth. Local police officials, including DSP Imam Yaqoob Baloch and SHOs Ataullah Jamot and Amin Sasoli, were present at the scene and attempted negotiations. Protesters vowed to continue their sit-in until their demands are met.
The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) protest camp in Quetta, which has been continuously active for 5,992 days, also reported several new complaints of disappearances. VBMP condemned the detentions as unlawful and urged the authorities to either present the individuals in court if any charges exist or release them immediately.
Human rights groups continue to describe enforced disappearances in Balochistan as a serious and protracted human rights concern. They have repeatedly called on the federal and provincial governments to ensure transparent investigations, accountability of security agencies, and the safe return of missing persons.
According to compiled data, during this week, over 15 people have reportedly been forcibly disappeared across Balochistan, four have been released, and one body of a previously missing individual has been recovered.
Despite repeated domestic and international appeals, the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan remains unresolved, continuing to fuel unrest and deepen mistrust between local communities and the state authorities.