Pakistani forces have allegedly carried out enforced disappearances of eight individuals from the regions of Turbat and Mashkay in Balochistan, while one person previously missing has returned home in Khuzdar.
In Turbat, a man named Mahaz Baloch s/o Ahmed from Balecha, Tump, was reportedly taken into custody on March 27. His abduction was later confirmed by his family on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in Mashkay, seven individuals were reportedly apprehended by Pakistani forces on April 8 from the area of Ronjhan. The detained have been identified as Umda and Muhammad, sons of Khuda Baksh; Sawal Jan and Fateh Jan, sons of Muhammad Noor; Muhammad Raza, son of Bahar; along with Jasim and Shamshad.
In a separate development, Muzammil Baloch, son of Muhammad Afzal Mengal, who was detained on March 8 at 11:00 AM, has been safely released.
The families of those subjected to enforced disappearances have described these actions as a form of ‘collective punishment,’ impacting not only the individuals taken but also their family members. Young daughters have grown into adulthood in protest camps, some of whom have never met their fathers. Elderly parents have passed away while waiting for a reunion with their missing sons.
One such case involves Naseebullah Badini, whose aging mother suffered a heart attack on Eid day while awaiting the return of her son, who has been missing for over a decade. Following the heart attack on Sunday night, she was hospitalized for urgent medical care. Family members disclosed that she was reminiscing about her son and weeping at the time of the incident.
Her health is reportedly declining swiftly, prompting the family to urge Pakistani authorities to return her son so she can spend her remaining days in peace with him.