Two men previously reported as forcibly disappeared were killed in what rights groups allege was a “fake encounter” by Pakistani forces in the Buzdad Burbodonk area of Balochistan’s Awaran district on Saturday.
The victims were identified as Faqeer Jan, son of Syed Muhammad, a resident of Kunri Bazdad, and Essa Baloch, son of Noor Deen, from Paho. The Baloch National Movement’s (BNM) human rights wing, PAANK, said both men were killed in a staged encounter after months of enforced disappearance.
“Faqeer Jan was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces on September 26, 2024, while Essa Baloch had been missing since February 17, 2023,” PAANK said in a statement on X. “Their deaths represent gross violations of human rights and international law, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions.”
Levies officials confirmed that the bodies were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital in Awaran. However, Pakistani authorities have not commented on the incident.
PAANK called for an “immediate, transparent, and impartial investigation” into the killings. “The Pakistani government must hold those responsible accountable and end the systemic use of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan,” the group said. It also urged the international community to take action, stating, “Justice must prevail for the victims and their families.”
It should be noted that the recovery of mutilated and unidentified bodies has become increasingly frequent in Balochistan, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations. Advocacy groups have demanded DNA testing of all recovered bodies to ensure proper identification and accountability. Last month, the remains of three brothers were found in Kalat, while the body of a woman was discovered in Turbat.
Political and social groups in Balochistan claim that many of these bodies belong to individuals who were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces and later killed in staged encounters. They accuse the authorities of using enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings to intimidate the population and suppress demands for justice and freedom.