The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has condemned the reported demolition of the home of the family of forcibly disappeared Jiwani resident Asghar Ali and the homes of at least six other local residents, calling the action “the height of state repression” and evidence of “collective punishment”.
In a statement, the BYC said Asghar Ali’s family had faced repeated raids, harassment and pressure to issue statements under coercion following his disappearance, culminating in the demolition of their home with heavy machinery.
“The forcible disappearance of a young man was apparently not considered sufficient, and his family is also being continuously subjected to state repression,” the statement said.
The group said the homes of Rizwan Rasheed, Ali Asghar, Ghulam Nabi Jaffar, Yar Jan, Mohammad Jan and Ghani Jaffar were also demolished in Jiwani.
It described the demolitions as evidence that “collective punishment has formally been implemented as state policy”.
“Forcibly evicting any ordinary civilian from their home without legal justification or a court order, making family members stand under the scorching sun, and demolishing their home in front of them is an example of the worst form of state repression,” the BYC spokesperson said.
The BYC said incidents involving Pakistani forces burning, damaging, looting and demolishing homes had increased across Balochistan in recent months, citing reported incidents in Karachi, Kohad in Tump, Panwan in Jiwani and Dasht in Mastung.
It said the actions were unlawful even under Pakistan’s own constitution and laws, alleging that personnel, particularly from the Frontier Corps (FC), were carrying them out without accountability.
The group also criticised state institutions and political parties for failing to raise what it described as an effective voice against the reported abuses.
The BYC called on international human rights organisations to take notice of the demolitions, warning that the alleged actions would continue unless the Pakistani state was held accountable.
“Unless the Pakistani state is held accountable for these actions, it will continue the Baloch genocide,” the statement said.