A series of incidents involving enforced disappearances and the recovery of bodies have been reported across several districts in Balochistan, prompting renewed concern from families and human rights advocates.
Two Bodies Recovered Near Pasni
Police in Gwadar district said that two bodies were found on Saturday near Bank Charhai along the Pasni Road. According to officials, local residents informed authorities about the presence of the bodies, which were subsequently taken to a nearby hospital.
The deceased were later identified as Zarif, son of Lal Bakhsh, a resident of Blor in Kolwah, and Farooq, son of Naeem. Police stated that both bodies bore gunshot wounds. According to family members and local sources, both men had been subjected to enforced disappearance months earlier. Zarif was reportedly taken away by unidentified individuals from the Ormara area roughly two weeks before the start of Ramadan and had remained missing since.
Human rights groups have consistently raised concerns about longstanding patterns of disappearances and violence in the region.
Young Man Reported Missing in Khuzdar
In a separate development, residents in Khuzdar district reported that a young man, Mohammad Arif, was abducted on 30 October from Basima, Washuk district, allegedly by a local state-backed group commonly referred to by community members as a “death squad”. Arif, a resident of Tehsil Naal, has not reappeared.
Arif is the son of Zakir Ismail, who himself has been missing since 11 February 2013 after reportedly being detained by Pakistani forces. Relatives explained that Arif had been actively participating in demonstrations calling for the recovery of his father and other missing persons, and had become the sole breadwinner for the family before his disappearance.
Local sources in Naal claim that six individuals have gone missing during the past month in incidents involving Pakistani forces, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), or alleged local “death squads”, though three of them have since resurfaced.
Arif’s relatives have appealed to human rights organisations and local communities to raise their voices for his safe return.
Twelve People Reportedly Taken into Custody in Kech
Separately, reports from Kech district indicate that twelve individuals, including four women and an elderly man, were detained by Pakistani forces and subsequently disappeared. According to local sources, they were taken into custody while travelling for a religious visit. Those reported missing include Lal Bakhsh, Farzana, Meemal, Sher Bano and Shireen, alongside several others whose identities have not yet been confirmed.
No official confirmation or statement has been issued regarding the circumstances of their detention.
Families in Turbat Hold Press Conference Over Missing Students
In Turbat, a group of women from Shapuk held a press conference at the Turbat Press Club, reporting that five young men from their families were taken from the Essa Nagri area of Quetta on 28 August and remain missing. The missing men were identified as Shah Baig, son of Master Aslam; Qadeer, son of Lillah; Akram, son of Master Taqseer; Qadeer, son of Phullain; and Mohammad Yaseen, son of Muskan. Another youth, Saddam, son of Mehrab, was reportedly taken from the Jusak area in July.
The families said they had met multiple times with the deputy commissioner, commissioner, and other officials, but had received no information on the whereabouts or condition of the missing students after nearly four months.
They stated that all the young men were students living in Quetta for educational purposes. The women warned that if the authorities failed to recover their children within three days, they would block major roads, including Taleemi Chowk and Commissioner Road, as part of their protest.
Continued Concern Over Disappearances
Human rights defenders and community organisations have long expressed concern over enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan. Families affected by recent incidents say they fear further escalation unless transparent investigations are conducted and information is provided about the whereabouts of the missing.