Balochistan, a region scarred by the ongoing crisis of enforced disappearances, continues to grapple with this harrowing reality that has tormented its inhabitants for over two decades. Baloch nationalists, activists, and human rights organizations have consistently accused Pakistani intelligence agencies and security forces of being responsible for these abductions and extrajudicial killings. Despite vehement denials from the Pakistani government, mounting evidence provided by these groups paints a starkly contrasting picture.
August: A Month of Heightened Tensions
The month of August in Balochistan witnesses a predictable surge in enforced disappearances, with the number rising to a troubling 83 cases. This escalation is primarily attributed to the divergent celebrations of independence days by Baloch nationalists and Pakistani officials. During this period, Baloch armed groups target Pakistani celebrations throughout Balochistan, while Pakistani forces respond with increased military operations and raids.
The August Statistics
In the monthly investigation, The Balochistan Post (TBP) examined the state of enforced disappearances during August 2023. The following findings came to light:
1. Enforced Disappearances: A distressing total of 83 individuals reportedly vanished under suspicious circumstances during the month of August. These incidents are strongly linked to the volatile atmosphere created by conflicting independence celebrations.
2. Safe Returns: Despite the grim situation, 34 individuals safely returned to their homes during the same period, offering a glimmer of hope to their families and communities.
3. Recovered Bodies: Tragically, the search for the missing persons yielded the discovery of six lifeless bodies, intensifying the grief and despair in Balochistan.
Enforced Disappearances Across Balochistan
The enforced disappearances in August were reported in various areas across Balochistan. Some of the regions most affected include:
- Samad: Forcibly disappeared from Kharan on August 1. Still missing
- Mohammad Essa: Forcibly disappeared from Kharan on August 1. Still missing
- Hafeez: Forcibly disappeared from Kharan on August 1. Later released
- Kashif: Forcibly disappeared from Kharan on August 3. Still missing
- Ashraf: Forcibly disappeared from Panjgur on August 3. Still missing
- Nowshad: Forcibly disappeared from August 4. Still missing
- Gulab: Forciblydisappeared from Kech on August 4. Still missing
- Saif Baloch: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 4. Still missing
- Nisar Kareem: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 5. Still missing
- Barkat: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 6. Later released
- Shaukat: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 6. Later released
- Ayaz: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 6. Later released
- Jangi Khan: Forcibly disappeared from Awaran on August 8. Still missing
- Zareef: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 10. Still missing
- Tahir: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 10. Later released
- Saeed Baloch: Forcibly disappeared from Khuzdar on August 11. Later released
- Fayaz Ali: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 11. Later released
- Faqeer Jan: Forcibly disappeared from Panjgur on August 11. Later released
- Dad Shah: Forcibly disappeared from Karachi on August 11. Still missing
- Liqauat: Forcibly disappeared form Tump on August 11. Still missing
- Sattar: Forcibly disappeared from Panjgur on August 11. Later released
- Riaz Haidar: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 11. Later released
- Khalil: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 11. Still missing
- Yahya: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 11. Still missing
- Rafeeq Ahmed: Forcibly disappeared from Karachi on August 11. Still missing
- Sher Jan: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 12. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 11. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 11. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Tump August 11. Still missing
- Arif: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 13. Later released
- Shahzaib: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 13. Later released
- Bahar: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 13. Later released
- Nadeem: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 13. Later released
- Azeez: Forcibly disappeared from Tump on August 13. Later released
- Shams Baloch: Forcibly disappeared from Khuzdar on August 13. Later released
- Naveed: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 14. Still missing
- Zaheer: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 14. Still missing
- Jahanzaib: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 14. Still missing
- Kambar: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 14. Still missing
- Kamran: Forcibly disappeared form Khuzdar on August 14. Still missing
- Murad: Forcibly disappeared form Tump on August 14. Later released
- Atif: Forcibly disappeared from Nushki on August 15. Still missing
- Fazal Yaqoob: Forcibly disappeared from Khuzdar on August 15. Later released
- Haji Jumma: Forcibly disappeared from Kharan on August 15. Still missing
- Unknown female: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 16 and then turned over to the police. Still missing
- Unknown female: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 16 and then turned over to the police. Still missing
- Unknown female: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 16 and then turned over to the police. Still missing
- Unknown female: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 16 and then turned over to the police. Still missing
- Unknown female: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 16 and then turned over to the police. Still missing
- Ibrar Shah: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 17. Later released
- Raziq Jattak: Forcibly disappeared from Zehri on August 18. Later released
- Manan Jattak: Forcibly disappeared from Khuzdar on August 18. Later released
- Hafeez Jan: Forcibly disappeared from Zehri on August 18. Later released
- Nabi Bakhsh: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 18. Still missing
- Shoaib: Forcibly disappeared from Karachi on August 19. Still missing
- Zaman: Forcibly disappeared from Karachi on August 19. Later released
- Haq Nawaz: Forcibly disappeared from Nushki on August 19. Still missing
- Hamid: Forcibly disappeared from Nushki on August 19. Still missing
- Jaffar: Forcibly disappeared from Nushki on August 19. Still missing
- Amir: Forcibly disappeared from Nushki on August 19. Still missing
- Umar Yaseen: Forcibly disappeared form Nushki on august 19. Still missing
- Naeem Hasil: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 17. Later released
- Zaheer: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 22. Still missing
- Peer Jan: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 22. Still missing
- Adil Assa: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 22. Still missing
- Ijaz: Forcibly disappeared from Kalat for the second time on August 23. Still missing
- Shaukat: Forcibly disappeared form Turbat on August 23. Still missing
- Ahmed Khan: forcibly disappeared form Turbat on August 23. Still missing
- Shah Jahan: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 23. Still missing
- Naik Bakht: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 24. Still missing
- Hazrat Omar: Forcibly disappeared from Islamabad on August 25. Still missing
- Dad Raheed: Forcibly disappeared from Turbat on August 25. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 25. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 25. Still missing
- Sajjad Ali: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 26. Still missing
- Mohammad Yousuf: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 26. Still missing
- Meeran Khan: Forcibly disappeared from Khuzdar on August 17. Still missing
- Noor Khatoon: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 28 along with her young children Abdul Ghaffar and Banari. The three are still missing
- Rasheed: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 28. Still missing
- Hassan Bangulzai: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 30. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 25. Still missing
- Unknown male: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 25. Still missing
- Sajjad Ali: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 26. Still missing
- Mohammad Yousuf: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 26. Still missing
- Meeran Khan: Forcibly disappeared from Khuzdar on August 17. Still missing
- Noor Khatoon: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 28 along with her young children Abdul Ghaffar and Banari. The three are still missing
- Rasheed: Forcibly disappeared from Gwadar on August 28. Still missing
- Hassan Bangulzai: Forcibly disappeared from Quetta on August 30. Still missing
In addition, at least 70 individuals were detained in Dera Bugti for sharing photos of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on social media to commemorate his death anniversary on August 26. They were all later released.
Furthermore, at least six dead bodies were discovered in Balochistan in August. However, The Balochistan Post could not substantiate the identities of the deceased.