A Baloch woman, Asma Jattak, has allegedly been abducted by state-backed militias, locally known as “Death Squads,” in the Khuzdar district of Balochistan. The incident has triggered widespread protests, with locals blocking the Karachi-Quetta highway in demand of justice.
According to reports, armed individuals raided a house near the police lines in Khuzdar around 1 AM on the night between Wednesday and Thursday. During the raid, Asma Jattak was allegedly taken away, while other women and children in the house were subjected to violence and torture.
Following the abduction, residents and the victim’s family launched a sit-in protest on the Karachi-Quetta highway, blocking traffic since 4 AM. The victim’s family, speaking anonymously to local media, accused the armed group responsible for the abduction of being supported by former Balochistan Chief Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sanaullah Zehri. Meanwhile, in a video on social media during the protests, the sister of Asma Jattak discloses the identification of the Death Squad member, Zahoor Jamalzai — who, according to her, raided their house along with 15-20 gunmen and used violence by hitting her, her husband, her brother and other members in the house and kidnapped her sister.
State-backed militias, commonly referred to as Death Squads, operate with impunity across Balochistan, allegedly targeting political activists and engaging in crimes such as enforced disappearances and drug-related activities. Despite the gravity of the situation, district authorities have not yet issued any official statement regarding the incident.
The human rights wing of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), Paank, has strongly condemned the abduction of Asma Jattak, calling it an act of gender-based persecution and targeted violence. According to Paank, Asma Jattak and her family have faced systematic oppression since 2014, when they were forcibly displaced from their ancestral village, Anjeera, Surab District, by forces linked to Nawab Sanaullah Zehri. Their homes were demolished, and they were forced to live as internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Balochistan and Sindh.
The persecution intensified when Asma’s fiancé, Abdul Salam, a final-year engineering student, was reportedly murdered by a state-backed Death Squad after her family refused to allow her forced marriage to a member of the group. For the past decade, Asma and her family have fled from one place to another to escape constant threats.
Activists highlight that her abduction exemplifies the weaponization of gender-based violence against Baloch women to instill fear and silence entire communities. The incident is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan, where enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and violent repression of dissent have become routine, activists said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the National Democratic Party (NDP) has also condemned the rising incidents of targeted killings in Turbat and Panjgur, stating that state-backed elements are responsible for these attacks. The spokesperson referred to recent incidents, including a bomb attack on the residence of Sachan Public School Director Sharif Zakir and the subsequent enforced disappearance of his son, Kamil Sharif, and relative, Ehsan Sarwar. The NDP emphasized that such acts are part of a broader strategy to suppress the Baloch people’s struggle for their national and political rights.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, condemned the abduction of Asma Jattak and called for immediate action. She stated that Asma’s family is currently staging protests at two locations in Khuzdar, where her mother has been seen holding the Quran, pleading for justice. Dr. Mahrang urged the people of Khuzdar to join the protests and stand against the ongoing oppression.
“The state-sponsored Death Squads have made life unbearable for civilians in Balochistan. Backed by the military and intelligence agencies, these groups violate the dignity and security of ordinary people, storming homes and abducting individuals with impunity,” she said.
The abduction of Asma Jattak has once again spotlighted the dire human rights situation in Balochistan. Protesters demand her safe return and accountability for those responsible, while authorities remain silent on the growing crisis.