A Baloch political and rights advocacy group said on Friday that three men were abducted from different areas of Balochistan and later found dead, accusing armed groups operating with what it called state backing of carrying out the killings.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) said Mulla Razak, a resident of Newano Zamuran in Kech district, was taken from his home on Jan. 14 by armed men without a warrant. He was found dead a day later in the Semswari Kaur area, the group said, adding that his body showed signs of torture.
The group said Razak was a civilian and the main provider for his family.
In a second case, the BYC said a medical dispenser, Dr Zareef Baloch, was abducted from his medical store in the Gishkore area of Awaran district at about 5 p.m. on Jan. 14. About two hours later, he was killed and his body was recovered from the Hotan River, the group said.
In a third case, the BYC said Zohaib Ahmed, a graduate student and part-time shopkeeper, was taken from a municipal office in the Washbood area of Panjgur district on Jan. 13 after masked men opened fire and wounded a gatekeeper. Ahmed was found dead the next day in the Bonistan area, the group said, adding that his body showed multiple bullet wounds and signs of torture.
The BYC accused what it described as “state-backed death squads” of carrying out the abductions and killings.
Pakistani authorities did not immediately comment on the allegations. However, they have repeatedly denied involvement in enforced disappearances or extrajudicial killings, and have rejected claims that any “death squads” operate with state backing in Balochistan.