Armed men allegedly linked to Pakistani forces posed as Baloch pro-independence fighters and harassed civilians in parts of Kharan district on Tuesday, residents said.
Residents said the men identified themselves as “sarmachars” — a term commonly used for Baloch armed fighters — while moving through different areas of the district and threatening civilians.
According to residents, in Killi Sarawan the armed men entered a hospital, forced staff to stop working, shut down the facility and warned that it should not be reopened.
They further alleged that members of the group threatened staff at a polio transit point in South City on Naurozabad Road, stopped buses and attempted to harass passengers and drivers while portraying themselves as Baloch fighters.
Residents described the group as a local “death squad” operating under the patronage of Pakistani forces and said the same armed men were later seen accompanying military personnel during patrols in the area.
They added that a day earlier Pakistani forces had come under attack in the same locality during an operation by Baloch armed fighters, after which movement of military personnel increased across Kharan.
According to residents, the alleged actions appeared aimed at intimidating civilians and inciting them against Baloch nationalist armed groups following those attacks.
Pakistani authorities did not immediately comment on the allegations.